Nitaqat calculator: work out your Saudization percentage and band
Choose your activity, enter your headcount and Saudi employees: the calculator applies the official Nitaqat Mutawar formula with the coefficients published by the Ministry of Human Resources for 2026, 2027 and 2028, and tells you how many Saudis to hire to reach each band.
- Activities covered, official coefficients
- 411
- Years calculated
- 2026 to 20281
- Salary for a Saudi to count in full
- SAR 4,0003
In brief
- The calculator applies the official Nitaqat Mutawar formula, y = m × ln(headcount) + c, with the coefficients in annex 1 of the HRSD 2026 procedural guide for 41 activities and the years 2026, 2027 and 2028.
- The Saudization rate is the weighted Saudi headcount divided by the sum of that headcount and the expatriate headcount: a Saudi paid SAR 4,000 or more counts as 1, SAR 3,000–3,999 or part-time as ½, flexible work as ⅓.
- With 5 employees or fewer the formula does not apply: the ministry requires one Saudi employee.
- The result is indicative: the band that counts is the one shown in Qiwa, calculated by the ministry on average headcounts.
Nitaqat calculator
Estimated Saudization rate
20.0%
Nitaqat band
Red
| Nitaqat band | Minimum threshold | Saudi hires (SAR 4,000+) needed to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Low Green | 36.2% | +3 |
| Medium Green | 45.0% | +5 |
| High Green | 48.7% | +6 |
| Platinum | 59.9% | +11 |
Indicative estimate. The ministry calculates the rate on average headcounts, and profession quotas apply on top of Nitaqat. The band that counts is the one shown in Qiwa. Official HRSD 2026 coefficients · Ministry's official calculator
How the calculation works
The rate. Weighted Saudi headcount ÷ (weighted Saudi headcount + expatriate employees) × 100, as defined in the official guide.
The thresholds. For each band (Low Green, Medium Green, High Green, Platinum), the minimum is m × ln(x) + c, where x is the entity's total headcount. The values of m and c come from annex 1 of the Nitaqat Mutawar procedural guide 2026; c changes each year from 2026 to 2028.
The hires. For each band, the calculator finds the smallest number of Saudis paid SAR 4,000 or more to add to the current team. It accounts for the fact that each hire also raises total headcount, and therefore the threshold.
The rules applied
Table 1
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi paid SAR 4,000 or more | counts as 1 | HRSD, 18 November 2020 |
| Saudi paid SAR 3,000–3,999, or part-time | counts as ½ | HRSD, 18 November 2020 |
| Saudi on flexible work | counts as ⅓ (168 hours a month) | HRSD, 18 November 2020 |
| Saudi paid below SAR 3,000 | does not count | HRSD, 18 November 2020 |
| Entity with 5 employees or fewer | one Saudi employee required | Official HRSD 2026 calculator |
| Band thresholds | m × ln(headcount) + c, by activity and year | Nitaqat Mutawar guide 2026, annex 1 |
What the calculator does not take into account
How to read the result
Aim for at least Medium Green: it is the first band that keeps access to new work visas. Low Green still allows permit renewals, but no more hiring from abroad.
Run the numbers again for 2027 and 2028: for most activities thresholds rise every year. A margin of one or two Saudi employees avoids dropping a band at the first departure.
Everything about the rules, bands and profession quotas: Saudization and Nitaqat.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my Saudization percentage?
Divide the weighted number of Saudis (1 at SAR 4,000 or more, ½ at SAR 3,000–3,999 or part-time, ⅓ on flexible work) by that same number plus your expatriate employees, then multiply by 100. Then compare the result with the thresholds for your activity.
Is this calculator official?
No. It applies the official formula and coefficients published by the Ministry of Human Resources, but the band that counts is the one shown in Qiwa. The ministry also publishes its own calculator, linked below the result.
Why does the threshold change with headcount?
Since Nitaqat Mutawar, the threshold follows a logarithmic curve of headcount: it rises with company size, but more and more slowly. This removes the sudden jumps of the old size brackets.
Which band should I aim for to keep hiring foreigners?
At least Medium Green: it is the first band that allows new work visa requests. In Low Green, existing permits can be renewed, but new visas are blocked.
My activity is not in the list: what should I do?
The list follows the 41 consolidated activities of the official guide. The activity on your commercial registration is attached to one of them; Qiwa shows which in the establishment's file.
Notes and sources
- 1.HRSD: Nitaqat Mutawar procedural guide 2026, annex 1 (coefficients by activity)
- 2.HRSD: official Nitaqat Mutawar 2026 calculator
- 3.HRSD: rules for counting Saudi employees (18 November 2020)
- 4.HRSD: Nitaqat Mutawar frequently asked questions
Information verified in September 2026. Amounts and timelines are observed ranges provided for information only. Government fees are set by Saudi authorities and may change: we confirm them in writing before you commit to anything.
See also
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