Private-sector employers in Saudi Arabia will be required to increase the proportion of Saudi nationals employed in designated project management professions to 70% from 14 February 2027, under new workforce localisation requirements announced by the government.
The measure will apply to private-sector establishments employing three or more people in specified project management occupations, introducing higher national employment targets for organisations delivering projects across the Kingdom.
The decision was announced by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD), in partnership with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.
It forms part of the country’s wider Saudization programme, which seeks to increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals in specialised professions and strengthen domestic workforce participation.
Three project management professions covered
The new requirement covers three occupations under the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations:
- Project Management Manager
- Project Management Engineer
- Project Management Specialist
The 70% localisation requirement will be calculated at establishment level, rather than across an employer’s entire national workforce.
This means affected businesses will need to assess the composition of their project management teams within individual establishments to determine whether they meet the required threshold.
The rules will apply to establishments falling within the scope of the ministry’s procedural guidelines.
Employers face workforce planning requirements
The change has implications for businesses employing project managers, project engineers and project management specialists in Saudi Arabia, particularly those with internationally recruited delivery teams.
Affected employers will need to review their existing workforce arrangements and determine whether recruitment, training or workforce restructuring is necessary before the February 2027 implementation date.
The requirements could also influence workforce planning for organisations preparing to mobilise new projects, especially where project management positions are expected to be filled through international recruitment.
The ministry has published a procedural guide outlining the covered professions, implementation mechanisms, calculation methods and compliance requirements.
The guidance provides employers with a framework for assessing their obligations and preparing for the higher localisation threshold.
Policy aims to expand Saudi project management talent
The decision forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader labour market strategy and Vision 2030 objectives, which include increasing national participation in skilled employment.
The ministry has also outlined support for private-sector employers, including recruitment assistance, training and qualification programmes and employment retention support.
With implementation scheduled for 14 February 2027, the measure gives affected organisations a defined period to prepare their project management workforces for the revised requirements.
The change is particularly relevant to contractors, engineering consultancies and project delivery organisations operating in Saudi Arabia, where workforce localisation will become an additional consideration in recruitment, resource planning and long-term project staffing.
The ministry confirmed the requirements in its August 2026 announcement and published procedural guidance under Ministerial Decision No. 41454.
