Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Ministry of Health announced their decision to implement higher localization rates in four health professions in the private sector effective from April 17, 2025.

The Saudization rate in radiology profession will be raised to 65 percent, medical laboratory profession to 70 percent, therapeutic nutrition profession to 80 percent, and physiotherapy profession to 80 percent.

This will initially apply to all hospitals and other health facilities in major cities of Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, and Al-Khobar, as well as to large health facilities in other regions, and this will be effective six months after announcement of the decision, from April 17 next year. The second phase will begin one year after the announcement of the decision, effective from October 17, 2025 when Saudization rates will extend to cover all health facilities nationwide.

This move aligns with Saudi Arabia's endeavor to make more employment opportunities available for Saudi nationals and enhance the quality of healthcare in the private sector. These decisions come within the efforts of the two ministries aimed at providing more stimulating and productive job opportunities for male and female citizens in various regions of the Kingdom.

The decisions to raise the percentage of Saudization of health professions in medical laboratories, radiology, therapeutic nutrition and physical therapy represent a continuation of previous decisions to localize health professions. This is to achieve the objectives of the Labor Market Strategy and the Health Sector Transformation Program in supporting national competencies and empowering young men and women with job opportunities.

The decision also aims to enable national cadres in the health sector to obtain qualitative and attractive job opportunities in all regions of the Kingdom. The Ministry of Health will supervise the follow-up of implementation in a manner consistent with the requirements of the labor market and specializations of health professions.

Private sector establishments will also benefit from the incentives and support programs provided by the Human Resources and Social Development System to help establishments employ Saudis, which include supporting the recruitment process and searching for suitable workers; supporting the necessary training and qualification process; supporting the employment process and job continuity; in addition to the priority of benefiting from all available localization support programs in the system, and support and employment programs through the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF).

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issued a procedural guide explaining the details of localization, professions and required percentages on the Ministry’s website. The ministry stressed the need for establishments to adhere to and implement the provisions, in order to avoid the regulatory penalties that will be imposed on the violators.