The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued new decisive decisions aimed at enhancing the participation of national cadres in the labor market, as it announced raising the localization rates in marketing and sales professions in the private sector, while setting a minimum wage to ensure attracting talents and providing a decent life for Saudi employees.
Details of localization of marketing jobs
The first decision mandates raising the Saudization rate to 60% in marketing professions, effective January 19, 2026. This decision applies to all private sector establishments employing three or more people in marketing-related fields. To ensure job quality, a minimum wage of SAR 5,500 has been set. The list of targeted professions includes a wide range of vital specializations such as: Marketing Manager, Advertising Agent, Advertising Manager, Graphic Designer, Advertising Designer, Public Relations Specialist, Advertising Specialist, Marketing Specialist, Public Relations Manager, and Photographer.
Localization of the sales sector
In parallel, the second decision stipulated raising the Saudization rate to 60% in sales professions, effective from the same date in January 2026. This decision applies to establishments with three or more employees in this field. The targeted professions include: sales manager, retail sales representative, wholesale sales representative, sales representative, IT and communications equipment sales specialist, sales specialist, commercial specialist, and merchandise broker. The Ministry granted a three-month grace period from the date of the announcement before implementation procedures begin, to allow establishments time to adjust their operations.
Context of Vision 2030 and Strategic Dimensions
These decisions are an integral part of the goals of "Vision 2030," which prioritizes reducing unemployment rates among citizens and empowering them in the private sector. This step is a continuation of a series of Saudization decisions that previously included the engineering, dentistry, pharmacy, and accounting sectors. By focusing on marketing and sales, the Ministry aims to shift from quantitative to qualitative Saudization, as these professions are the backbone of companies and the primary driver of revenue. This means that empowering Saudis in these fields will provide them with advanced leadership and management experience.
Economic impact and system support
This decision is expected to create thousands of new job opportunities for young Saudi men and women, boosting local purchasing power and supporting the national economy by keeping wages within the Kingdom instead of transferring them abroad. To ensure its successful implementation, the Ministry confirmed that private sector establishments will benefit from a package of incentives and support through the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), including support for training and development, and salary contributions, to guarantee job security for qualified Saudi nationals.
The ministry called on all establishments to review the procedural guide available on its website, which explains the calculation mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance, stressing the need to take advantage of the grace period to rectify situations and avoid regulatory violations.
