Okaz learned that the Qawi platform, which is under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has started discontinuing some job change services for expatriates. The most prominent of these occupations included “general manager, sales representative, marketing specialist, and purchasing manager.”
For establishments wishing to change an employee’s occupation, a note was included: (Sorry, you cannot change an employee’s current occupation from that occupation), indicating on the platform that if this situation appeared, they could not change from that occupation to or from another occupation.
dismiss the general manager
The platform removed the occupation “General Manager” from the resident’s record, confirmed that this occupation is exclusive to Saudi nationals, and indicated that establishments with employees in the occupation “General Manager” can change the occupation of residents to other occupations, such as “CEO, Chairman of the Board”, only if the employee is registered in the commercial register with the same occupation and there are no employees with the same occupation in the establishment.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently approved an increase in saudification rates in marketing and sales professions to increase the saudification levels in certain professions in order to provide exciting and productive career opportunities for male and female citizens.
Resettlement decision
The first decision stipulates that the nationalization rate of the marketing profession in the private sector will increase to 60% as of January 19, 2026. This applies to establishments employing three or more workers in the marketing profession, and the minimum wage is set at 5,500 riyals. Target occupations include marketing managers, advertising agencies, advertising managers, graphic designers, advertising designers, public relations specialists, advertising specialists, marketing specialists, public relations managers, and photographers. Photo shoot and decision will be made 3 months after the announcement date. It is intended to provide facilities with the necessary time to prepare and implement their decisions.
The second decision stipulates that the nationalization rate of the private sales industry will be raised to 60% as of January 19, 2026, and will apply to establishments that employ three or more employees in the sales industry. Eligible occupations include sales managers, retail sales representatives, wholesale sales representatives, sales representatives, ICT equipment sales specialists, sales specialists, commercial specialists, and commodity intermediaries, provided that the decision takes effect three months after the date of the announcement. This is to ensure that eligible facilities meet the requirements and achieve targeted Emiratization rates.
Occupations that are prohibited or prohibited from being transferred
– general manager
– sales representative
– Marketing Specialist
– Purchasing Manager
“Okaz” has learned that the “Qiwa” platform under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has started suspending certain job change services for expatriates, including the most famous “general manager, sales representative, marketing specialist, purchasing manager”.
For establishments that want to change an employee’s occupation, a notice (Sorry, you cannot change an employee’s current occupation) was displayed, indicating on the platform that if this situation occurred, they would not be able to change from that occupation to or from another occupation.
dismissal of general manager
The platform removed the occupation “general manager” from residents’ records, confirming that the occupation is exclusive to Saudis. The law stated that an establishment with an employee in the occupation of “general manager” may change the occupation of the resident to another occupation, such as “chief executive officer, chairman of the board”, only if the employee is registered in the commercial register with the same occupation and there are no employees with the same occupation in the establishment.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently approved an increase in the localization rate for marketing and sales jobs in order to increase the level of localization in the profession and provide exciting and productive employment opportunities for the population.
Localization decisions
The first decision provides for increasing the localization rate in marketing professions in the private sector to 60% from January 19, 2026, applies to establishments employing three or more workers in marketing professions, and sets the minimum wage at 5,500 riyals. The targeted professions include marketing managers, advertising agencies, advertising managers, graphic designers, advertising designers, public relations specialists, advertising specialists, marketing specialists, public relations managers, and photographers, and the decision will take effect three months after the date of its announcement to give establishments the time they need to prepare and implement the decision.
The second decision provides for an increase in the localization rate in sales professions in the private sector to 60% from January 19, 2026, and applies to establishments employing three or more workers in sales professions. Eligible positions include sales managers, retail sales representatives, wholesale sales representatives, sales representatives, IT and mail order specialists, sales specialists, and commercial brokerage specialists.The decision will take effect within three months from the date of the announcement to ensure eligible establishments meet the requirements and achieve targeted localization rates.
Occupations prohibited from transfer
-general manager
-sales representative
– Marketing Specialist
– Purchasing Manager
