New Volunteer Work Licence Rolled Out to Support Hajj Pilgrims
The initiative will regulate volunteer participation across Saudi Arabia and help the Kingdom reach Vision 2030 targets.
Saudi Arabia has launched a national volunteer work licence aimed at formalising and regulating volunteer participation across the Kingdom. The licence is designed to improve safety standards, enhance skill-building, and ensure that volunteers—particularly those supporting pilgrims during Hajj and Umrah—are properly trained and registered.
Announced during the third International Non-Profit Sector Exhibition (IENA 2025), the initiative is part of a broader push to integrate volunteerism into Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. Alongside the licence programme, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development also unveiled the Non-Profit Work Observatory Foundation, a new body tasked with monitoring the sector, collecting data, and conducting studies to address systemic challenges faced by non-profit organisations.
The IENA exhibition included a social investment forum and a Gulf forum designed to foster cross-sector collaboration, reflecting a growing focus on professionalising civil society in the Kingdom. Officials say the volunteer licence will support safer, more efficient mobilisation of volunteers, while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s goal of increasing the non-profit sector’s share of GDP to 5% by 2030.
