Saudi Arabia has officially implemented a new skill-based work-permit system for foreign workers. This will affect the way expatriate labour is classified and recruited. Effective 1 July for new arrivals and 18 June for existing workers, the system is designed to align talent with national workforce needs, support economic transformation goals, and boost productivity across sectors.
Under the new framework, expatriates are grouped into three categories—highly skilled, skilled, and basic—based on criteria including qualifications, experience, technical ability, wage levels and age. The classification system is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy and aims to attract specialised global talent for its growing list of giga-projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, and Diriyah Gate.
The initiative will also address skill mismatches and reduce over-reliance on low-skilled labour. A digital evaluation platform, Qiwa, will manage worker assessments and ensure alignment with the Unified Saudi Classification of Professions and Educational Levels. Employers must review their current workforce and reclassify employees accordingly, while workers may request reassessment if they meet higher-tier criteria.
The rollout complements the existing Professional Verification Programme, which verifies the professional and educational credentials of incoming foreign workers across sectors such as healthcare, engineering and education. Currently, the programme covers 128 countries and is expected to expand to 160.
With expatriates comprising 44.4 per cent of the total population, their role in Saudi Arabia’s workforce remains vital. The new system is expected to enhance transparency in hiring, improve operational efficiency, and support the Kingdom’s transition to a more skilled, innovation-driven economy.
