The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has initiated the Saudization of healthcare sectors, particularly for job roles in Radiology, Medical Laboratories, Clinical Nutrition, and Physiotherapy, effective from April 17, 2025.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, aims to increase Saudization rates for approved professional definitions and job titles in the private sector.

The ministries have partnered to enhance the participation of national talent—both men and women—in Saudi Arabia’s job market, encouraging greater workforce involvement through better job opportunities. This initiative aligns well with the nation’s Labour Market Strategy and the Health Sector Transformation Program.

The Saudization rate set for each targeted role is as follows:  

• Radiology: 65% Saudization
• Clinical Nutrition: 80% Saudization
• Physiotherapy: 80% Saudization
• Medical Laboratories: 70% Saudization

The Ministry commented, “Steady steps towards empowering national competencies in health professions, and investing in their capabilities and skills to build their professional future and enhance their opportunities in the private sector.”

It added, “This decision continues the efforts to localize healthcare professions. The Ministry of Health will oversee the implementation in alignment with labor market needs. Meanwhile, private sector entities will benefit from the support and incentive programs provided by the human resources and social development system. These include support for recruitment, training, qualification, employment, and retention, as well as priority access to Saudization support programs and initiatives from the Human Resources Development Fund (HADAF).”

In addition to the Saudization rates, the Ministry has also announced a minimum wage for these roles, ranging from SAR 7,000 for specialist roles to SAR 5,000 for technician roles.

According to the Ministry, the first phase will apply to all private sector establishments employing at least one worker in the main cities—Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Dammam, and Khobar. It also applies to large and mega enterprises in the remaining regions of the Kingdom.

The Ministry also announced that the second phase of healthcare sector Saudization will begin on October 17, 2025, covering the remaining establishments in all regions.

Additionally, the Ministry has published procedural guides on its official website, outlining the decision details and required Saudization rates. All private sector healthcare companies are urged to comply with the decision to avoid legal penalties for non-compliance.

The Ministry of Health has recently announced key appointments, including Meraee Al-Qahtani as Deputy Minister of Nationalization and Human Capital, who will lead the localization efforts, along with Reem bint Saleh Al-Ghanim as Deputy Minister of Human Resources.