Saudis Now Make Up 93% of Workforce at Saudi Space Agency

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) has announced that 93% of its workforce is now composed of Saudi nationals, according to newly released employment statistics for 2024 and 2025. The agency reported a total of 337 employees across the two years, with 170 hired in 2024 and 167 in 2025.

The data also shows a rising role for young professionals in the space sector. Employees between the ages of 31 and 40 account for nearly half of the agency’s staff, indicating a growing reliance on youth in scientific and technical fields. Gender distribution shows that 72% of staff are male, while 28% are female.

The SSA has been instrumental in facilitating Saudi participation in space missions. In 2023, it partnered with Axiom Space to send two Saudi astronauts, Ali AlQarni and Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Axiom Mission 2. Barnawi's mission was particularly historic, as she became recognised by Guinness World Records as the first Saudi woman in space.

The figures reflect the increasing localisation of expertise within Saudi Arabia’s space industry and a broader shift toward cultivating specialised talent across strategic sectors.