Overview
The Nitaqat program classifies establishments into categories based on their Saudization ratio, and this category determines the visa and license quotas available to the establishment, with establishments at higher Saudization ratios receiving additional benefits.
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Unplanned shifts in Nitaqat category can occur from workforce changes not designed around an approaching periodic review date, and the lawyers recommend a light annual review to catch this before it becomes a licensing problem.
Regulatory Basis
This program falls under regulations issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which set required Saudization ratios based on activity and establishment size.
How We Help With Compliance
The lawyers review the establishment's current position regarding Nitaqat category and Saudization ratio, and assess the impact of any future hiring plan on this category before implementation.
If the establishment faces an unplanned shift in its Nitaqat category, the lawyers help assess the options available to address this shift as quickly as possible.
Who Needs This Service
A company planning to expand its workforce that needs to assess the impact of this expansion on its Nitaqat category before actually hiring.
An establishment facing an unplanned shift in its Nitaqat category that needs quick resolution before it affects its licenses or visas.
Some establishments only review their Nitaqat category when facing an actual problem with a visa or license renewal, rather than reviewing it proactively on a regular basis. This reactive pattern means discovering the issue at the worst possible time, usually when the need for the visa is already urgent, when early review would have been enough to avoid this situation entirely.
Additional Considerations
Nitaqat category connects directly with drafting new employment contracts, and the lawyers review the mutual impact between the two for any hiring plan. For companies planning to bring in specialized staff from abroad, this connects with the general labor and employment service.
Common Questions
How does Nitaqat category affect a company's ability to hire foreign employees?
Nitaqat category determines the visa and license quotas available to the company, and the lawyers recommend periodic review of this category before planning any workforce expansion.
What do we do if our Nitaqat category drops unexpectedly?
The lawyers review the reasons for this shift and assess the options available to address it, whether through adjusting the Saudization ratio or other available procedures.