Nitaqat: how the Saudization rate is calculated, and how to raise your band
Author: HRFirst content team · Published: 2026-08-27
Your company's Nitaqat band is not a symbolic number. Platinum, high green and medium green let you request visas and transfer workers, low green stops new visas, and red stops most services. Yet the "Saudization rate" remains a puzzle for many small business owners: how is it calculated? And why does a company with a similar number of Saudi employees end up in a different band? This guide breaks down the equation.
What is Nitaqat, and why does your band matter to you?
Nitaqat is a programme that measures a company's commitment to job Saudization, and classifies it into a band that determines what services it can access. The higher your band, the wider your permissions; the lower it is, the narrower they become, exposing you to restrictions that disrupt operations.
How is the Saudization rate calculated?
The basic idea is the ratio of Saudi employees to total employees, but the actual calculation uses weighting factors, most notably:
- A Saudi employee whose wage registered with GOSI is 4,000 riyals or more counts as one full employee (1).
- A Saudi employee earning from 3,000 to under 4,000 riyals counts as half (0.5).
- A Saudi employee earning under 3,000 riyals is not counted at all.
- A Saudi employee with a disability who is able to work counts as four employees, if the wage is 4,000 riyals or more and GOSI is paid, up to 10% of your Saudi employees.
- A part-time employee counts as half, if the wage is at least 3,000 riyals and GOSI is paid, and is not counted at more than two companies.
The five bands
Companies are classified in ascending order: red, then low, medium and high green, then platinum at the top. The required rate for each band is not a single national figure, it varies according to your activity type and company size. This is why two companies with the same rate can end up in different bands. Use the official calculator to find out the required rate for your specific case.
How do you raise your band?
- Hire Saudis in real roles, not nominal ones; fictitious Saudization is a violation, not a solution.
- Be mindful of the salary threshold that grants you the full weighting.
- Make use of categories with higher weighting within their controls.
- Make sure your registered activity matches your actual activity.
- Review your employee list regularly, since an inactive name left on the list distorts your rate.
Common mistakes
- Relying on a general rate figure without verifying the required rate for your activity and size.
- Fictitious Saudization to raise the band, which exposes you to a serious violation.
- Ignoring the effect of salaries on the weighting factor.
- Neglecting to match the registered activity with the actual activity.
Key takeaway
Your band is the result of a weighted rate, not a raw headcount; know the rate required for your activity and size, and raise it through genuine hiring and accurate data.
Sources
أسئلة شائعة
- كيف تُحسب نسبة التوطين؟
- نسبة السعوديين إلى الإجمالي، مع معاملات ترجيح حسب الأجر المسجّل في التأمينات: 4,000 ريال فأكثر بمعامل كامل، ومن 3,000 إلى أقل من 4,000 بنصف، وأقل من 3,000 ما يُحتسب. وذو الإعاقة القادر على العمل يُحتسب بأربعة ضمن شروط وحدود.
- وش هي النطاقات؟
- خمسة تصاعديًا: أحمر، أخضر منخفض ومتوسط ومرتفع، ثم بلاتيني.
- هل النسبة المطلوبة ثابتة لكل المنشآت؟
- لا، تختلف بحسب نوع النشاط وحجم المنشأة. اعتمد الحاسبة الرسمية.
- كيف أرفع نطاقي؟
- بتوظيف سعوديين في وظائف فعلية، ومراعاة حد الراتب للاحتساب الكامل، وتصحيح النشاط المسجّل، ومراجعة قائمة الموظفين.
النسب الدقيقة تختلف بحسب نشاطك وحجمك. اعتمد الحاسبة الرسمية، واستعن بمختص في الحالات الخاصة.
Author
HRFirst content team Operational HR guides. We write practical guides for Saudi businesses and cite primary sources for articles covering specific regulatory requirements. Check official guidance for your own case.