SAUDI EXPATRIATES

The new plan is in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and other major national initiatives, such as NEOM and Qiddiya. Although this system might be useful for professionals, it might be more difficult for low-wage workers.

Organizations are now tasked with new documentation duties and regulations about compliance.

Every expatriate who has worked in Saudi Arabia in the past few decades will probably agree with this statement: your job title often dictated your life. No matter their specialty, all employees held the same basic residency permission, called an iqama. The group included cleaners, technicians, and surgeons. Now, that period is coming to an end.

A new method for issuing work permits in Saudi Arabia, taking into account a person's actual credentials, experience, and salary, went into effect in July 2025. What you bring to the table is now more important than what is stated in your employment contract. Trending: Late-night sales ban on food trucks in Saudi Arabia, as per new rules

1. Highly skilled (e.g., engineers, doctors, AI experts, etc.)

2. Skilled, as in technical occupations and leadership roles.

3. Basic (duty-based occupations, such as driving, cleaning, or loading).

The digital system under the Ministry of Human Resources, Qiwa, is managing everything. The scoring system considers factors such as age, monthly salary, and years of experience and education.

Saudi Arabia's broader strategy, Vision 2030, closely links to this transformation.

Beyond oil, this national plan seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy into areas such as technology, tourism, and more. And to get there, they'll require top-tier experts from all over the world in the fields of building, coding, design, and management.

1. NEOM, the $500 billion smart city of the future.

2. Qiddiya, a huge cultural and entertainment complex.

3. The Red Sea Project, a premier location for ecotourism.

4. The Diriyah Gate, which aims to restore the historical identity of the area.

These advances are not your typical ones. Specialists in climate change, artificial intelligence ethics, or urban mobility planning are examples of the types of modern, niche jobs that are needed. That is the purpose of the new visa categories. Attracting qualified individuals is a national priority. Related: Saudi Arabia introduces skill-based work visa system

The modifications were implemented for expats already residing in the kingdom in mid-June 2025, and employers have been given time until August 3, 2025, by the government to amend their records.

1. Your background and training could facilitate quicker renewals.

2. You might find more career opportunities in different fields.

3. It may be easier to obtain long-term residency and family sponsorships.

4. Conversely, if your work is classified as basic, you may encounter the following issues:

* Additional documentation to submit.

* Visa processing delays.

* Potential complications may arise during employment changes or permit renewals. Entry-level job criteria are tightening, but this doesn't mean anyone is being laid off.

Looking back at the beginning can help you comprehend where things are heading.

Employers in Saudi Arabia might serve as sponsors for their employees under the kafala system, which has been in place for many years. From approving contract extensions to determining when and where an employee might travel, the sponsor had extensive control over the employee's life. Read: Is it possible to return to Saudi Arabia after final exit? Jawazat clarifies

The system began to receive criticism in the early 2000s, primarily from rights organizations. As a result, the government started making adjustments.

The 2011 Nitaqat program incentivized businesses to hire more Saudi nationals. Greater employment movement, the elimination of certain exit visa limitations, and the gradual digitization of the labor market were later, with Vision 2030, introduced as major reforms.

Saudi Arabia is taking a risk with this skill-based strategy, its most daring step to date, to meet the needs of an evolving economy.

This reform represents a significant operational change for Saudi Arabian employers.

* Job positions are aligned with educational degrees.

* Workers' salaries are based on the tier to which they are assigned.

* Everything must be uploaded appropriately in Qiwa regarding contracts and staff titles.

If you make a mistake here, it could lead to penalties or even the denial of your visa application, in addition to delays. This can be a manageable task for bigger companies. However, small and medium-sized businesses will need to adapt rapidly or risk falling behind. See Also: How to use free Saudi Transit visa for performing Umrah

Although there has been progress with the skill-based model, not all long-standing practices have been abolished. Actually, a lot of expat workers, particularly those with lower skill levels, still need their employers' approval to:

* Leave the country.

* Bring family members over.

* Change jobs.

It is evident that the system is still dealing with past problems that require fixing, even if it is evolving.

Expats living in Saudi Arabia transfer more than 12.78 billion Saudi Riyals ($3.4 billion) back to their home countries each month, according to statistics starting in early 2025.

* A decrease in low-income workers could potentially cause a drop in enrollment.

* While some high-income earners may be able to send larger amounts individually.

* Some of the most significant countries that get remittances from the Gulf are the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh; this could change the way money flows back to those countries. Join Saudi Expatriates channel on Telegram

This change is occurring alongside other initiatives. It is a component of a broader digital transition that includes

* To make sure all credentials are legitimate before workers even show up, the Professional Verification Program is in place.

* Wage Protection System—Monitors salary transfers in real time.

* Qiwa, Musaned, and Taqat are platforms that can handle all aspects of a complaint or recruiting process.

Through this mission, Saudi Arabia wants to create a more efficient, transparent, and equitable labor market.

This shift impacts everyone, from Indian software developers to Filipino nurses to Bangladeshi construction workers.

More liberty, quicker processing, and improved benefits might be in store for some. For some, staying in a country they have long called home may feel like just one more obstacle to overcome. Saudi Expatriates is now on WhatsApp channel

A: Not directly. However, via Qiwa, their employer can submit revised paperwork and ask for a review.

A: Yes, family sponsorship and permanent residency do become more available to workers in the high-skilled group.