Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb has approved a set of new policies and regulations governing the registration of workers and localisation of jobs across all licensed tourism facilities in the Kingdom.
The move marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s drive to enhance citizen employment, empower national talent within the tourism sector, and raise overall service quality, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi tourism opportunities
Developed in collaboration with relevant government agencies, the new policies are designed to increase Saudi nationals’ participation in the tourism sector by creating stimulating job opportunities, including leadership roles and positions for recent graduates.
The framework supports the Kingdom’s wider economic diversification agenda, ensuring that the fast-growing tourism industry continues to offer sustainable, high-value career pathways for citizens.
The regulations apply to all activities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism and establish several mandatory obligations for tourism facilities:
- Employee registration: All employees must be registered within the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s systems before starting work
- Contract documentation: Employment contracts — including contractual, seconded, or seasonal roles — must be recorded through the Ajeer platform or other officially approved platforms
- Branch-specific registration: Multi-branch establishments must register staff specifically against the facility file linked to each tourism licence
- Saudi receptionists: All tourism hospitality facilities are required to have a Saudi receptionist on duty during operating hours, reinforcing the Kingdom’s values of Saudi hospitality
- Outsourcing restrictions: Assigning or outsourcing positions subject to Saudization decisions to foreign entities or non-Saudi workers is strictly prohibited. Such work can only be outsourced to entities licensed by the Ministry of Tourism or the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
Enforcement and penalties
The Ministry of Tourism confirmed that compliance with the new regulations will be closely monitored, and penalties will apply to establishments found in violation.
Inspections and enforcement will be carried out in cooperation with relevant government agencies to ensure full adherence across the sector.
The ministry added that these policies form part of a comprehensive plan to professionalise the tourism workforce, safeguard job opportunities for citizens, and ensure that all tourism establishments deliver a consistent standard of service aligned with the Kingdom’s growing global profile.
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