Saudi Arabia has enacted bold new regulations mandating higher Saudization across the tourism and hospitality sector — requiring licensed establishments to staff key roles, particularly front desks, with Saudi nationals and to register all employment contracts through Ajeer or other approved systems before work begins.
Overview of the New Tourism Workforce Regulation
Mandating a Saudi Receptionist On Duty
The Ministry of Tourism has approved rules that require every licensed hospitality facility to ensure the presence of a Saudi receptionist during operating hours. The ministry says the requirement highlights "the deeply rooted values of Saudi hospitality" and aims to raise the profile of citizens in customer-facing roles.
Formal Registration of Employment Contracts
All employment arrangements — including permanent, contractual, seconded and seasonal contracts — must be formally registered via the Ajeer platform or equivalent approved systems prior to the employee starting work. This step is intended to improve oversight and transparency in hiring.
Prohibition on Outsourcing Saudized Roles Abroad
The regulations forbid outsourcing or assigning Saudized positions to workers or entities outside the Kingdom except where subcontracting is done to firms licensed by the Ministry of Tourism or authorised by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Key Provisions and Requirements
Linking Employees With Specific Tourism Licences
Establishments operating multiple licensed branches must link each employee to the specific facility file associated with that tourism licence, making branch-level compliance auditable.
Use of Ajeer and Other Approved Systems
Contract registration, worker assignment and Saudization tracking will rely on Ajeer or other officially approved platforms to centralise records and facilitate monitoring by authorities.
Role of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development
The Ministry of Tourism said establishments must register workers in the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s systems before employment begins, enabling cross-agency enforcement and data sharing.
Goals and Strategic Rationale
Boosting Citizen Participation in Tourism Jobs
The policy aims to increase Saudi nationals' participation in leadership and customer-facing roles across the tourism value chain, from receptionists to managers and entry-level positions for recent graduates.
Alignment With Vision 2030
The drive to localise tourism jobs supports Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and developing national talent in high-growth sectors.
Enforcement, Penalties and Monitoring
Compliance Checks and Audit Mechanisms
The Ministry of Tourism will coordinate with partner agencies to audit compliance and may carry out site inspections and data audits to ensure establishments meet Saudization and registration requirements.
Penalties for Violations
Violations such as failure to register contracts or to provide Saudi staff in mandated roles may result in administrative penalties, licence actions, or fines in coordination with relevant authorities.
Implications, Challenges and Outlook
Impact on Hospitality Operations
Operators may need to reorganise staffing rosters, recruit and train Saudi nationals for front-desk and managerial roles, and update HR systems to meet registration requirements.
Training and Capacity Building Needs
To meet the new requirements, the public and private sectors may need to expand vocational training, internships and on-the-job coaching to close skill gaps.
Balancing Regulation and Practicality
Policy success will depend on enforcing compliance while allowing practical flexibility for smaller operators and during transitional periods.
