Saudi Workers Limited to Seven Jobs Within One Year

Workers in Saudi Arabia are now prohibited from holding more than seven jobs within a one-year period under updated labour regulations outlined by the Qiwa Platform.

According to Qiwa, which operates under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the limit is calculated as seven employment contracts within 365 days from the date of the first contract. An eighth contract cannot be issued until a full year has passed since that original employment start date.

The platform also stated that employees may hold a maximum of two valid employment contracts simultaneously under existing labour regulations and service requirements.

If a worker wishes to take on an additional role while already holding two active contracts, one of the existing contracts must first be terminated before a new agreement can be concluded.

Qiwa further announced that registrations for non-Saudi employees must be cancelled if work permits expire or if workers remain without valid permits for more than three months after June 30th, 2026, regardless of residency status.

The platform also clarified updated conditions tied to the Nitaqat Programme, which measures workforce nationalisation levels across establishments.

To be counted as a Saudi employee under the programme, workers must be at least 18 years old according to the Hijri calendar, receive a minimum basic salary of SAR 4,000 in addition to a housing allowance, work on a full-time basis rather than part-time, and must not be students.