GOSI and Saudisation Compliance Shift: A Workforce Risk Brief for Saudi Employers

Saudi Arabia’s Saudisation framework has entered a new compliance phase following changes to Nitaqat eligibility rules. Under the updated requirements, Saudi employees no longer count toward Saudisation calculations through GOSI registration alone and must have digitally authenticated contracts through Qiwa. Combined with a new documentation threshold and the removal of the Yellow tier, organizations face increased exposure to hidden compliance gaps that can affect workforce planning, hiring continuity, and broader operational stability.

Key insights from this report highlight:

• Saudi employees now require digitally counter-signed Qiwa contracts to receive Nitaqat credit rather than GOSI registration alone.

• Organizations must meet a 90 percent Qiwa documentation threshold by 30 June 2026 to maintain accurate Saudisation calculations.

• The elimination of the Yellow tier means businesses can move directly from Green to Red without an intermediate warning band.

• Red status creates operational consequences, including visa restrictions, Iqama limitations, transfer suspensions, and exclusion from government tenders.

• Continuous monitoring and documentation-first compliance models are becoming essential to prevent hidden Saudisation score gaps.

Download the full report to explore the complete compliance action framework and workforce risk mitigation strategy for Saudi employers.