Saudization (Nitaqat) Calculator
Check your establishment's Saudization percentage and Nitaqat band in seconds — then see exactly how many Saudi employees you need to hire to reach the Green zone and protect your visa privileges.
* Illustrative — MHRSD calculates your official band live from Qiwa & GOSI records.
Your Nitaqat band appears here
Enter your workforce numbers and targets, then click Check My Nitaqat Band
Nitaqat Bands Explained
Your band decides whether you can issue and renew expat visas — or face restrictions and the expat levy.
Top performers. Maximum visa, renewal and transfer flexibility, priority government services.
Compliant. Free to issue and renew expat visas and transfer staff. Three sub-tiers by performance.
Non-compliant. New visas frozen, renewals and transfers blocked, monthly expat levy applies. (Yellow was merged into Red in 2025.)
Company Size Bands
Your Saudization target depends on both your economic activity and your size band.
| Size Band | Headcount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1–5 employees | Lighter rules; often a single Saudi satisfies the requirement. |
| Small | 6–49 employees | Activity-specific Saudization targets apply. |
| Medium | 50–499 employees | Higher targets; multiple Green sub-bands. |
| Large | 500+ employees | Strictest targets and closest MHRSD monitoring. |
⚠️ Exact Green and Platinum thresholds are set per activity and size band and change over time (a new phase begins 26 April 2026). Always confirm your official targets and live band on the Qiwa platform.
How Saudization Is Calculated
Full-time Saudis (≥ SAR 4,000) = 1 point, part-time = 0.5, and Saudis with a disability = 2 points.
Saudization % = weighted Saudi points ÷ total headcount × 100.
At or above the Green target you're compliant; above Platinum you're a top performer; below Green you're in Red.
If you're short, the calculator shows how many additional Saudi employees you need to reach the Green zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saudization (Nitaqat)?
Nitaqat is Saudi Arabia's workforce-nationalisation programme, run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). It requires private-sector employers to hire a minimum share of Saudi nationals, and grades each company into a colour band — Platinum, Green or Red — that determines their visa and hiring privileges.
How is the Saudization percentage calculated?
Saudization % = (weighted Saudi headcount ÷ total workforce) × 100. Saudi employees are weighted: a full-time Saudi earning at least SAR 4,000/month counts as 1 point, a part-time Saudi as 0.5, and a Saudi employee with a disability as 2. The total workforce is your full headcount (Saudis + non-Saudis).
What are the Nitaqat bands?
From best to worst: Platinum, High Green, Mid Green, Low Green, and Red. Platinum and the three Green tiers are compliant; Red is non-compliant. The Yellow band was abolished in 2025 and former Yellow companies were moved to Red.
What can Green and Platinum companies do that Red companies can't?
Platinum and Green establishments can issue and renew expat work visas freely, transfer employees, and access government services. Red companies face frozen new visas, blocked renewals and transfers, and the monthly expat levy — so falling into Red directly restricts your ability to hire foreign workers.
How do part-time and disabled Saudi employees count?
To encourage inclusive hiring, a part-time Saudi counts as half a point (0.5) and a Saudi employee with a disability counts as two points (2). A full-time Saudi must earn at least SAR 4,000/month to count as a full point.
Where do I find my company's exact Saudization target?
Your Green and Platinum thresholds depend on your specific economic activity and size band, and are shown on the Qiwa platform against your establishment. Enter those figures into this calculator for an exact band; the defaults here are illustrative only.
What is changing with Nitaqat in 2026?
From 26 April 2026, MHRSD is rolling out a new Nitaqat phase aimed at localising over 340,000 private-sector jobs, raising the sector-specific target values and band thresholds across most activities. Check Qiwa for your updated targets and re-run this calculator.
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