Required certification · Saudi Arabia
Qiwa & Nitaqat (Saudization)
قوى / نطاقات: HRSD's labour platform and the Nitaqat Saudization ranges
Market position
Qiwa is the platform that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) describes as the main digital platform for all services of the Saudi labour system. Nitaqat is HRSD's Saudization programme: each entity is placed in one of five ranges (Red, Low Green, Medium Green, High Green, Platinum) by its Saudization rate, with the required rate set by economic activity and headcount. HRSD's guideline says the range decides which services an entity can use, from new expatriate visas to work permit renewals. Since April 2026 a Saudi employee counts toward Nitaqat only if the employment contract is documented on Qiwa, according to Fragomen and Middle East Briefing.
Saudi Arabia-specific note
Nitaqat has no US equivalent. HR and payroll tools used in Saudi Arabia need to track Saudi and expatriate headcount per entity, and Fragomen reports that from April 2026 a Saudi employee counts toward the Saudization rate only when the contract is documented on Qiwa and the employee is registered with GOSI.
Pros
- + One HRSD platform for labour-system services, including contract documentation
- + Green and Platinum ranges keep access to new visas, occupation changes and sponsorship transfers
- + Required Saudization rises smoothly with headcount instead of jumping at fixed size bands
- + Quota constants per activity, including Construction & Cleaning, are published by HRSD
Cons
- − Red range cannot get new expatriate visas or issue or renew expatriate work permits
- − Low Green range cannot get new expatriate visas or change occupations
- − Saudi staff count only if their contracts are documented on Qiwa (from April 2026)
- − Quota constants change between cycles, so the range needs regular tracking
Typical Saudi Arabia pricing
Official service fees could not be read this run (qiwa.sa refused automated access); check the fee for each service on qiwa.sa before applying.
Why this matters for Saudi Arabia trades
The Engineering Professions Practice Law requires Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE) accreditation before anyone practises engineering, with fines of up to SAR 1 million. Under the Contractor Classification Law, government bodies may not accept a bid for a project subject to classification unless the contractor is classified in its field, activity and grade; classification requests and building permits are filed on Balady, where permit plans are checked against the Saudi Building Code and latent defects insurance is a required document. ZATCA’s Phase 2 requires businesses called in by turnover wave to connect their invoicing software to the Fatoora platform (EY reports that Wave 25 reaches taxable turnover above SAR 187,500 and that businesses in it should prepare to comply with Phase 2 starting from 1 February 2027). Nitaqat places each entity in one of five Saudization ranges that decide access to services such as new expatriate visas and work permits, and Argaam reported in 2018 that firms must join the Saudi Contractors Authority before bidding for tenders.
Saudi construction and trades software selection is shaped by ZATCA’s mandatory e-invoicing regime (Phase 2 integration with the Fatoora platform, rolled out in turnover waves), contractor classification by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing for public projects, building permits on Balady checked against the mandatory Saudi Building Code, Saudization ranges under Nitaqat tracked on Qiwa, and government tenders run on Etimad. Several vendors listed here offer Arabic and English interfaces, and some publish SAR prices.
Frequently asked
Is Qiwa & Nitaqat (Saudization) a good fit for Saudi Arabia trades?
Qiwa is the platform that the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) describes as the main digital platform for all services of the Saudi labour system. Nitaqat is HRSD's Saudization programme: each entity is placed in one of five ranges (Red, Low Green, Medium Green, High Green, Platinum) by its Saudization rate, with the required rate set by economic activity and headcount. HRSD's guideline says the range decides which services an entity can use, from new expatriate visas to work permit renewals. Since April 2026 a Saudi employee counts toward Nitaqat only if the employment contract is documented on Qiwa, according to Fragomen and Middle East Briefing. Nitaqat has no US equivalent. HR and payroll tools used in Saudi Arabia need to track Saudi and expatriate headcount per entity, and Fragomen reports that from April 2026 a Saudi employee counts toward the Saudization rate only when the contract is documented on Qiwa and the employee is registered with GOSI.
What does Qiwa & Nitaqat (Saudization) cost in Saudi Arabia?
Official service fees could not be read this run (qiwa.sa refused automated access); check the fee for each service on qiwa.sa before applying. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Saudi Arabia pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Saudi Arabia vendors
Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE)
Required certification
Contractor Classification (MOMAH)
Required certification
Balady Platform
Required certification
Saudi Building Code (SBC)
Required certification
ZATCA E-Invoicing (Fatoora)
Required certification
Saudi Contractors Authority (Muqawil)
Required certification