Nitaqat is a Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development program that sorts companies into five bands by Saudization rate, red to platinum. The rate required for each band depends on the economic activity, the number of workers and the year, and the band decides which services the company can use.
Step by step
- 1
Calculate the Saudization rate
Sum of the averages of Saudi workers ÷ sum of the averages of Saudi and expatriate workers × 100. The program guide defines expatriate workers as those who are not GCC nationals.
- 2
Know the entity counted
The rate is calculated per entity, meaning all of the company's branches in the same economic activity taken together.
- 3
Compare with the band limits
The minimum rate for each green band and for platinum comes from a formula based on the total number of workers and constants for each activity, published in the procedural guide for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Below low green is red.
- 4
Know what the band allows
Platinum, high green and medium green can request visa balances for available professions, change professions and receive transferred workers. Low green has requests for new visas and profession changes suspended. Red cannot request new visas, issue or renew work permits, or receive transferred workers.
- 5
Plan hiring ahead
Before any expansion or branch opening, work out the effect of new hires on the rate so the company's band does not drop.
Comparing your rate with one fixed figure for all companies is a common mistake. The required level depends on the activity and the number of workers, and it changes from year to year.
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