Monday, November 24, 2025
4 Legal Reasons Companies in Saudi Arabia Cannot Hire Expats, Even After a Good Interview
Many job seekers think that when their application is rejected, it means their CV was not good enough. In Saudi Arabia, a company may not be legally allowed to hire an expat, even if they liked you, interviewed you, and wanted to give you an offer.
Recruiters usually do not explain these legal limits, which leaves candidates confused. Here are the four main reasons a company may refuse an expat candidate. Trending: 7 Travel rules all Saudi residents must follow before traveling abroad
1. The company is in the Red Zone of Nitaqat
If a company is in the Red Zone, it is legally banned from hiring any expats.
This rule is absolute and unchangeable.
Even a forceful candidate cannot be hired until the company raises its Saudization level.
2. No expat quota left for your job title
Every job category has a limit on how many non-Saudi workers can be hired.
If the quota is full:
➤ The company cannot issue your iqama
➤ Your profession cannot be added
➤ The hiring process stops
This is one of the most common reasons for rejection after favorable interviews, but companies rarely mention it. Most Viewed: Saudi Arabia cracks down on illegal taxis
3. The company is not active or registered in Qiwa
If a company is not activated on Qiwa, or its status is not updated, it cannot:
🔘 Issue job offers
🔘 Start the recruitment process
🔘 Finalize your contract
Qiwa is the main platform for hiring now, and without an active profile, the company is legally unable to hire anyone.
4. The job category is restricted to Saudis only
Some job roles are fully Saudized by the Ministry of Human Resources.
If a position is in a Saudi-only category, a company cannot legally hire an expat, even if they would like to.
Why this is important
Many job seekers think the rejection is because of:
■ Their CV
■ Their skills
■ Their interview performance
But often, the real reason is that the company is legally restricted, not that the candidate is unqualified. See Also: Saudi Arabia deports 14,206 violators in one week
Understanding these rules helps you:
👉 Avoid false expectations
👉 Know when a company simply cannot move forward
👉 Focus on employers who are allowed to hire expats
Many times, the rejection is not about you but about compliance rules the company must follow.
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| 4 Legal Reasons Companies in Saudi Arabia Cannot Hire Expats, Even After a Good Interview |
