Saudi Arabia Restricts General Manager Role To Saudis, Raises Localisation To 60% In Sales And Marketing
Jeddah: Saudi Arabia has restricted the General Manager position to Saudi nationals only, blocking expatriates from changing their job titles to this role. According to a report by Okaz, the leading Saudi newspaper, the “Qiwa” platform, run by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has confirmed the change. Employers trying to change an expatriate worker’s profession to General Manager will now see a message: “Sorry, the employee’s current profession cannot be changed.”
The ministry clarified that this is not a new Saudization policy but rather a data alignment requirement between company records and employment contracts, Okaz reported.
What Employers Need to Know
Companies with expatriate employees listed as General Manager can change their job titles to other positions instead, such as Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board, provided the employee is registered in the commercial register with the same title and there are no other employees with that designation in the company.
The government announced new localization requirements for marketing and sales professions in the private sector, effective January 19, 2026, with implementation three months after announcement.
The localization rate has been raised to 60 per cent in the marketing profession. It applies to establishments with 3 or more employees in marketing professions, with a minimum wage set at SAR 5500. Targeted professions include marketing manager, advertising agent, advertising manager, graphic designer, advertising designer, public relations specialist, advertising specialist, marketing specialist, public relations manager, and photographer.
The localization rate in the sale profession has also been raised to 60 per cent. It applies to establishments with 3 or more employees in sales professions. Targeted professions include sales manager, retail sales representative, wholesale sales representative, sales representative, IT and communications equipment sales specialist, sales specialist, and commercial goods broker.
The three-month implementation period allows establishments the necessary time to prepare and implement the changes. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said the changes aim to create more job opportunities for Saudi citizens and increase employment in specialized professions.
