How Nitaqat counts your employees
Nitaqat is the Saudization program of the Ministry of Human Resources. Your percentage is the weighted number of Saudi employees divided by your whole weighted workforce. Not every employee counts the same:
| Employee | Counts as |
|---|---|
| Saudi earning 4,000 SAR or more | 1 |
| Saudi earning 3,000 to 3,999 SAR | 0.5 |
| Saudi earning under 3,000 SAR | 0 |
| Permanent part-time Saudi | 0.5 |
| Saudi student working part-time (up to 10% of the workforce) | 0.5 |
| Saudi with a disability, earning 4,000 SAR or more (up to 10% of Saudi staff) | 4 |
| Non-Saudi employee | 1 |
| Reduced-count categories (up to half the workforce) | 0.25 |
The bands are Platinum, High Green, Medium Green, Low Green and Red. The percentage needed for each band depends on your economic activity and your company size, and Qiwa shows it for your establishment. Qiwa uses the average over the last 26 weeks, so a new hire raises your percentage gradually. Since 2026, branches in the same activity are assessed together, and companies with fewer than 6 employees never need more than one Saudi.
Example
3 Saudis earning over 4,000, 2 Saudis earning 3,500, and 20 expats; target 25%
Saudization is 16.67%. You need 3 more Saudis earning 4,000 SAR or more to reach 25%.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a Saudi earning 3,500 SAR count as half?
Under Nitaqat, a Saudi counts fully only with a GOSI-registered wage of at least 4,000 SAR. From 3,000 to 3,999 SAR they count as half, and under 3,000 SAR they do not count.
Where do I find the percentage my company needs?
In Qiwa, on your establishment's Nitaqat page. It depends on your activity and the number of employees, so it is different for each company.
Why is my Qiwa percentage different from this result?
Qiwa uses the average of the last 26 weeks, while this calculator uses the numbers you enter today. Recent hires and departures take a few weeks to show fully.
Do GCC nationals count as Saudis?
Yes. GCC nationals, children of Saudi mothers, non-Saudi widows of Saudis and some other groups count as Saudis, with the same wage rules.
What happens in the Red band?
Companies in Red cannot issue new work visas, change professions or renew work permits for expats, among other restrictions. Since 2026, Low Green also has some limits.
Last reviewed: October 2026. The official result is the one in Qiwa. This calculator is an estimate and is not legal advice.
This page was translated from Arabic. If something is unclear or wrong, please tell us.