Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism has introduced significant new regulations aimed at prioritizing the employment of Saudi citizens in the tourism and hospitality industry. The move is part of the Kingdom's broader vision to strengthen its workforce, create more job opportunities for nationals, and ensure that the rapidly growing tourism sector is both sustainable and locally driven. By putting Saudis at the forefront of the industry, the ministry seeks to enhance service quality and empower local talent.

Under the updated regulations, outsourcing or subcontracting jobs covered by Saudization policies to foreign workers or external organizations will no longer be permitted. The only exception is when outsourcing is done through a ministry-licensed organization that employs Saudi nationals. This ensures that job opportunities remain within the country and directly benefit the local population while still allowing for regulated partnerships that comply with national labor policies.

Additionally, all tourism and hospitality establishments are now required to have at least one Saudi receptionist present during operating hours. This rule aims to improve the customer experience by ensuring visitors interact directly with trained Saudi professionals, while also creating more visible roles for citizens within the sector.

The ministry also announced the introduction of strict compliance measures to regulate employment practices in the industry. Employers must register all employees on approved platforms provided by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development before work begins, ensuring transparency and accountability across the sector.

Furthermore, all employment contracts — including those for contractors, secondments, or seasonal workers — must now be processed through the Ajeer system or other official platforms. Businesses operating multiple licensed facilities must register staff separately for each branch.

The Ministry of Tourism strongly urged all tourism businesses and organizations to fully comply with these new regulations. It emphasized that continuous monitoring and inspections will be carried out to ensure adherence, safeguard workers' rights, and support the Kingdom's strategic goal of building a strong, Saudi-led tourism workforce.

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