Saudi Arabia Tightens Oversight of Expatriate Job Titles in Sweeping Labour Reform
New rules link foreign workers’ job titles more strictly to qualifications and actual duties, raising compliance demands for employers across the Kingdom
Saudi Arabia has introduced tighter controls on the job titles assigned to expatriate workers, reinforcing its efforts to regulate the labour market and align foreign employment more closely with national workforce objectives.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has instructed employers to ensure that expatriates’ registered job titles accurately reflect their qualifications, professional background and the roles they perform in practice.
Under the updated rules, companies are required to standardise job titles through official digital platforms and may no longer assign generic or inflated titles that do not correspond to recognised occupational classifications.
The ministry has warned that discrepancies between an expatriate’s registered title and their actual duties could result in penalties, delays in work permit renewals or restrictions on future hiring.
Employers are expected to review existing contracts and employment records to ensure compliance with the revised framework.
The move is part of a broader regulatory push to improve transparency in the labour market and support Saudi Arabia’s Saudisation policy, which aims to increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.
By tightening oversight of expatriate roles, authorities seek to prevent the misclassification of jobs that could otherwise be filled by local workers and to ensure that specialised foreign expertise is brought in only where genuinely required.
Business groups have noted that the changes will require careful coordination between human resources, legal teams and government portals, particularly for companies employing large numbers of foreign staff across multiple functions.
While the reforms add an administrative burden, officials argue they will lead to clearer workforce planning and a more balanced labour market over time.
The ministry has urged employers to act proactively, update job records promptly and seek guidance where necessary, emphasising that accurate job title classification is now a central element of compliance for organisations operating in the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has instructed employers to ensure that expatriates’ registered job titles accurately reflect their qualifications, professional background and the roles they perform in practice.
Under the updated rules, companies are required to standardise job titles through official digital platforms and may no longer assign generic or inflated titles that do not correspond to recognised occupational classifications.
The ministry has warned that discrepancies between an expatriate’s registered title and their actual duties could result in penalties, delays in work permit renewals or restrictions on future hiring.
Employers are expected to review existing contracts and employment records to ensure compliance with the revised framework.
The move is part of a broader regulatory push to improve transparency in the labour market and support Saudi Arabia’s Saudisation policy, which aims to increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.
By tightening oversight of expatriate roles, authorities seek to prevent the misclassification of jobs that could otherwise be filled by local workers and to ensure that specialised foreign expertise is brought in only where genuinely required.
Business groups have noted that the changes will require careful coordination between human resources, legal teams and government portals, particularly for companies employing large numbers of foreign staff across multiple functions.
While the reforms add an administrative burden, officials argue they will lead to clearer workforce planning and a more balanced labour market over time.
The ministry has urged employers to act proactively, update job records promptly and seek guidance where necessary, emphasising that accurate job title classification is now a central element of compliance for organisations operating in the Kingdom.
