Saudi Arabia has issued an updated procedural guide for the localisation of administrative support professions. Kenya’s Labour CS Alfred Mutua speaking to Kenyans living in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Alfred Mutua. Source: Twitter The decision under Circular No. 278, signed by Minister Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, requires 100% Saudisation of a wide range of administrative jobs, effectively barring foreign workers, including Kenyans, from being employed in those roles. The move is part of a broader series of nationalisation measures that have recently targeted engineering, procurement, marketing, sales, and dental professions. What are the localised professions? The updated procedural guide, issued on April 5, 2026, covers a broad spectrum of administrative support roles. These include human resources managers and specialists, recruiters, public relations officers, administrative assistants, secretaries, data entry clerks, receptionists, translators, warehouse clerks, and security-related monitoring roles.
The decision applies to all private sector establishments operating in Saudi Arabia that employ workers in any of the listed job titles. The full list of 69 professions is detailed in the ministry’s procedural guide, which has been published on its official website. The table below shows some of the professions that have been reserved for Saudi Arabian nationals: Administrative & HR Roles Financial & Accounting Roles Engineering & Technical Roles Sales & Marketing Roles Administrative Support Roles Administrative Assistant Accountant Civil Engineer Sales Representative Data Entry Clerk Office Manager Financial Analyst Mechanical Engineer Marketing Specialist HR Assistant HR Specialist Internal Auditor Electrical Engineer Digital Marketing Specialist Administrative Communications Clerk Recruitment Specialist Budget Analyst IT Specialist Customer Service Representative Executive Secretary Personnel Affairs Officer Cost Accountant Systems Analyst Sales Supervisor HR Development Specialist Government Relations Officer Accounts Payable Specialist Network Administrator Salesperson Personnel Clerk Data Entry Clerk Accounts Receivable Specialist Software Developer Marketing Manager Timekeeper Administrative Coordinator — — Sales Coordinator Office Clerk HR Assistant — — Sales Manager Records Clerk HR Clerk — — Public Relations Manager Administrative Copyist Personnel Affairs Clerk — — — Administrative Typist HR Specialist — — — Filing Clerk HR Officer — — — Mail Clerk HR Inspector — — — Administrative Investigator HR Auditor — — — HR Consultant Recruitment Specialist — — — HR Inspector Public Relations Specialist — — — HR Auditor Public Relations Manager — — — Public Relations Clerk Public Relations Assistant — — — Public Relations Writer PR Correspondence Officer — — — Internal Communications Specialist Complaint Specialist — — — Government Clerk Business Services Specialist — — — Warehouse Keeper Business Services Manager — — — Warehouse Supervisor Procurement Specialist — — — Movement Controller Contracts Specialist — — — Call Center Agent Legal Researcher — — — Receptionist Legal Assistant — — — Telephone Operator — — — — Switchboard Operator When do the new rules come into effect? The ministerial decision was issued on April 5, 2026, and the procedural guide was published on the same date. Some professions are immediately enforceable from the decision date. However, the majority of roles have been granted a grace period of six months, meaning enforcement for those professions will begin on October 4, 2026. Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi is the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Companies are expected to use this period to adjust their workforce, recruit Saudi nationals, and terminate or reassign foreign workers currently occupying those roles. The ministry has made it clear that non-compliance will result in legal penalties and fines as per existing labour regulations. The new Saudisation expansion directly impacts the employment status of many Kenyans and other foreign nations working as secretaries, data entry clerks, translators, or HR assistants. The new administrative support professions decision is the latest in a series of measures designed to create more employment opportunities for Saudi citizens, reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on foreign labour, and align with the economic diversification goals of Vision 2030.
