المملكة: "Human resources": Raising the nationalization rates in marketing and sales professions and the minimum wage 5500 – urgent

Announced Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued two decisions for Raising nationalization ratesn in the marketing and sales professions.

The Ministry said that the two decisions were issued within the framework of the Ministry’s efforts aimed at enhancing the participation of national competencies in Labor market, raising the level of nationalization in specific professions, and providing stimulating and productive job opportunities for male and female citizens in various regions of the Kingdom.

The first decision stipulates raising the nationalization rate to 60% in marketing professions in the private sector as of January 19, 2026 AD, and applies to establishments that employ 3 or more workers in marketing professions, with the minimum wage set at 5,500 riyals. The targeted professions include: (marketing manager, advertising agent, advertising manager, graphic designer, advertising designer, public relations specialist, advertising specialist, marketing specialist, manager Public relations, photographer), and the implementation of the decision begins 3 months after the date of the announcement; In order to provide the necessary period for establishments to prepare and implement the decision.

The second decision stipulated raising the Emiratisation rate to 60%. In sales professions in the private sector, as of January 19, 2026 AD, and it applies to establishments that employ 3 or more employees in sales professions. The targeted professions include: (sales manager, retail sales representative, wholesale sales representative, sales representative, information and communications technology equipment sales specialist, sales specialist, commercial specialist, and commodity broker), provided that the decision enters into force after 3 months from the date of the announcement; This is to enable the targeted establishments to complete the requirements and achieve the targeted Emiratisation percentage.

The Ministry explained that private sector establishments will benefit from the incentive package provided by the human resources and social development system, which includes support for recruitment processes, training and qualification, employment, job stability, and priority access to Emiratisation support programs and the Human Resources Development Fund programmes. "goal"

I confirmed that my decision to raise the nationalization rates in the marketing and sales professions was based on analytical studies of the needs of the labor market, and in accordance with the numbers of job seekers in the relevant specializations, and the current and future requirements of the sales and marketing sectors, noting that implementing the two decisions would raise the attractiveness of the labor market, contribute to increasing quality job opportunities, and enhance job stability for national competencies.

The Ministry published the procedural guide for the two decisions on its website, which It includes details of the targeted professions, mechanisms for calculating Saudization rates, and required compliance steps, calling on all included establishments to adhere to the application in order to avoid regulatory penalties, and to benefit from the specified grace period for preparing and fulfilling the requirements.