First phase of Saudization in healthcare professions starts today
RIYADH: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in partnership with the Ministry of Health, announced the commencement of the first phase of Saudization in the healthcare sector.
Saudization rates will increase across four key private-sector healthcare professions as of April 17, 2025 in line with the approved professional titles, the MHRSD said in a series of posts on X.
The first phase targets specific Saudization percentages: 65 percent for radiology, 80 percent for clinical nutrition, the same for physiotherapy, and 70 percent for medical laboratories, it added.
The stipulated minimum monthly salaries are SR7,000 for specialists and SR5,000 for technicians in these roles.
The decision, according to the MHRSD, aligns with ongoing efforts by each ministry to enhance the participation of national talent in the labor market and to provide productive and lucrative job opportunities for Saudi citizens, while simultaneously supporting the objectives of the Labor Market Strategy and the Health Sector Transformation Program.
'It's a steady step towards empowering national competencies in the healthcare professions, investing in their capabilities and skills to build their professional futures and enhance their opportunities in the private sector,' the MHRSD said.
The initial implementation covers all establishments, regardless of size, in the major cities — Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam and Al-Khobar.
Large and mega-sized companies in other regions of the Kingdom are also included in this first phase.
The second phase of implementation, which will encompass the remaining establishments throughout the Kingdom, is scheduled to begin on Oct. 17, 2025.
Comprehensive procedural guidelines outlining the decision and the mandatory Saudization rates are available on the official website of the MHRSD.
Businesses that fail to meet Saudi localization quotas are subject to fines. The MHRSD urged all relevant establishments to comply with these regulations to avoid penalties.
The Kingdom in October 2024 announced higher mandatory localization rates in four private sector health professions with the mandatory localization rate in radiology to be raised to 65 percent, medical laboratory to 70 percent, therapeutic nutrition to 80 percent and physiotherapy to 80 percent.
Welcoming the decision, Abdullah Ahmed, a physiotherapist in Riyadh said: 'It's a good decision for Saudi graduates in this sector and aligns with the Kingdom's efforts to make more employment opportunities available for nationals in the private sector.'
In March 2024, the MHRSD and the MOH began implementing a mandatory 35 percent localization rate in dental professions. They also applied localization ratios to private sector establishments employing three or more workers in dental professions.
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