Your Nitaqat band affects access to labour services such as work visas and permit renewals, so it matters to every growing company.
Four sets of rules to keep apart
- General Saudization obligations for employers
- Nitaqat classification of the establishment
- Activity localisation decisions for whole activities or outlets
- Profession localisation decisions with minimum rates for specified occupations
What decides your band
- Economic activity
- Establishment size
- Weighted count of Saudi employees under official rules (for example wage or part-time status)
- Rule updates over time
Bands shown on Qiwa include Platinum, High Green, Medium Green, Low Green and Red.
A practical planning workflow
- Review the official status on Qiwa
- Verify employee and occupation data
- Identify gaps under the applicable rules
- Plan recruitment, roles and timing
- Hire, onboard and update records
- Monitor monthly for changes
Frequently asked questions
What happens in the Red band?
Establishments in lower bands may lose access to some labour services, such as new visas or renewals, until their status improves.
Do profession localisation rules apply to all companies?
No. Each decision has its own scope, such as activity, region, size and the number of employees in the profession.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Requirements change and depend on your activity, ownership and location. Decisions rest with the competent authorities.