Saudi Arabia: Nitaqat Calculation Now Requires Online Contract Submission

Effective immediately, for Saudi nationals to be included in any Saudization calculation under the Nitaqat program, employers must ensure that the employee’s contract is submitted on the digital Qiwa platform and that their status has been registered with the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI). Previously, only GOSI registration was necessary for Saudi employees to be included in Saudization calculations.  

Companies that do not have employee contracts documented through the Qiwa platform will not have those employees counted in Saudization calculations, which may lower an establishment’s Saudization rate and affect its Nitaqat classification. This, in turn, could impact access to government services, including work permit issuance and renewal. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.