Saudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia’s Skill-Based Work Permit System Reshapes Expat Employment Landscape
July 21, 2025
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In an article published in Saudi Gazette, Partner Haider Hussain outlined how Saudi Arabia’s new skill-based work permit system is reshaping workforce strategy and compliance requirements for employers.
He described the framework as a “deliberate and sophisticated recalibration” of the Kingdom’s approach to talent management, aligning with Vision 2030 goals. Haider emphasized the need for immediate workforce audits and integration of the new classification criteria—skills, wages, qualifications and age—into recruitment practices. He noted that employers may face challenges in interpreting terms such as “technical ability” and “wage level” and recommended internal assessment mechanisms and clear employee communication to support compliance and long-term planning.
Read more here.
This article was also published in Zawya.
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