How Saudization (Nitaqat) affects salaries in 2026 - quotas, salary boosts for Saudis, expat compensation changes, and sector-by-sector breakdown.
Detailed Breakdown
| # | Role | Average | Range | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi nationals (general) | +15-25% | Premium over expats | All sectors |
| 2 | Saudi CEO/C-Suite | +10-15% | Vs expat exec | Leadership |
| 3 | Saudi mid-level (engineer/manager) | +20-30% | Vs expat | Mid-level |
| 4 | Saudi entry-level | +25-40% | Major gap | Junior |
| 5 | Banking (95% Saudization) | High premium | Mostly Saudi | Banking |
| 6 | Retail (high Saudization quota) | +30% | Saudi-priority | Retail |
| 7 | HR (95%+ Saudization) | +25% | Saudi-priority | HR |
| 8 | Engineering (mixed) | +10-15% | Lower premium | Engineering |
| 9 | Tech (skill-based, less rigid) | +5-10% | Skill premium | Tech |
| 10 | Healthcare specialists (skill priority) | Similar | Skill-based | Healthcare |