Qiwa Sets Maximum Worker Limits by Nationality in Saudi Arabia
In a major move to support local employment, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has introduced new limits on the number of foreign workers from specific nationalities in private sector companies through the Qiwa platform. These restrictions apply to workers from India, Bangladesh, Yemen, and Ethiopia. The idea behind this step is to create more room for Saudi nationals in the job market and ensure fair opportunities for all. By carefully managing the percentage of foreign workers in companies, the Kingdom is working to strike a balance between meeting labor demands and empowering its citizens. This initiative is part of the ongoing Saudization efforts, which aim to reduce dependency on foreign labor and open doors for Saudi talent across different industries. In the long run, these measures are expected to fuel job growth, strengthen the local workforce, and support the Kingdom’s vision for a more diverse and sustainable economy.
Maximum Worker Percentage by Nationality
- India: 40%
- Bangladesh: 40%
- Yemen: 25%
- Ethiopia: 1%
Important Notes for Companies
Companies that have already exceeded these limits can continue employing their existing workers from these nationalities and renew their work permits and iqamas. However, they are not allowed to recruit new workers or transfer additional employees of those nationalities if the limit is already reached.
In such cases, the Qiwa system displays this message:
You have exceeded the permissible limit of the number of workers for this nationality. You can request one visa for this nationality only if no employees of this nationality are currently working with you.
Why These Limits Were Introduced
This step is part of the Kingdom’s broader Saudization efforts, aiming to diversify the workforce and create more job opportunities for Saudi nationals.
Summary
Private companies must regularly check the nationality breakdown of their workforce on Qiwa to ensure they comply with these new limits. Existing employees are not affected, but restrictions apply to hiring or transferring additional workers from the specified nationalities once the maximum allowed percentage is reached.
Sources: Saudi Gazzette
Qiwa Nationality-Wise Worker Limits with Visual Bar Graph
| Nationality | Maximum Allowed % | Visual Representation |
|---|---|---|
| India | 40% |
|
| Bangladesh | 40% |
|
| Yemen | 25% |
|
| Ethiopia | 1% |
|