The decision to localize 41 tourism-related professions in private sector enterprises was announced by Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The first phase of the decision's implementation, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, will start on April 22, 2026. The government is making an attempt to give both male and female inhabitants in the Kingdom more exciting employment options.
Hotel managers, hotel operations managers, hotel control managers, travel agency managers, planning and development managers, tourism development specialists, tourist guide specialists, tourist organizers, hotel specialists, site guides, purchasing specialists, sales specialists, and hotel receptionists are among the 41 leadership and specialized occupations that will be covered by the new Saudization drive.
April 22, 2026, will mark the start of the first phase of the Saudization decision's implementation, followed by January 3, 2027, and January 2, 2028, for the second and final phases. This ruling will apply to all tourism establishments in the private sector.
To educate employers and establishments about the process for determining Saudization and the sanctions for violators, the MHRSD has published a procedural guide on its website that includes information about the decision, such as the professions that will be Saudized, percentages of Saudization, and the like.
