Saudi Arabia: Professional Registration Requirement Expanded to All Media Industry Workers

The Saudi Media Regulatory Authority now requires all workers in the media industry to obtain a media-professional registration certificate. As a result, foreign nationals currently working in Saudi Arabia in the media industry must now obtain this certification, although a deadline to obtain the certification has not yet been set. Further, foreign nationals seeking to work in Saudi Arabia in the media industry must obtain this certification prior to applying for a work visa. Previously, only some media roles (including newspaper editors, photographers, journalists, and writers) required such certification. Applications can be submitted via this platform. Licenses are free, but applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible. This additional requirement is expected to delay start dates for foreign national workers in the media industry, although exact delay estimates remain unclear.