Saudi Arabia's target to hire citizens for half of all the jobs in licensed tourism establishments by 2028 is a “bold” step, but meeting that deadline will be challenging, recruiters say.
The move is aimed at diverting citizens from traditional government jobs and into the vital non-oil industry. But this will require more training and incentives to hit the ambitious goals on time, they say.
The Ministry of Tourism this week announced a policy of “localising activities and registering workers, with the aim of raising the localisation rate to 50 per cent by 2028 in all licensed tourism facilities”, according to its post on X.
This will be implemented in phases, with 40 per cent localisation by April 2026, 45 per cent by January 2027 and 50 per cent by 2028, it said.
The ministry's policy also prohibits the outsourcing of jobs that are eligible for Saudisation to establishments or workers outside the kingdom.
“Saudi has been localising sectors for years and tourism is now the next big push under Vision 2030. The target of 50 per cent Saudisation by 2028 sounds bold, but the real shift is not just policy, it’s the narrative,” said Nevin Lewis, chief executive of Black & Grey HR.
Tourism advertisements and campaigns are challenging stereotypes about the industry and reframing tourism as a career associated with national pride.
The outcome depends entirely on how well Saudi Arabia builds and executes its talent pipeline
Nevin Lewis,
chief executive of Black & Grey HR
“That’s critical, because without perception change, this becomes another compliance exercise,” he added.
Reaching the goal of localising half of the jobs in tourism establishments within the next three years will be difficult in the short-term and expats will remain essential for specialised roles for years to come, recruiters say.
“Execution always moves slower than the announcements. In the long term, yes, if training and retention match the ambition, the direction is right. The outcome depends entirely on how well Saudi Arabia builds and executes its talent pipeline,” Mr Lewis said.
Saudi Arabia's tourism mega-projects such as AlUla and Diriyah are already filled with Saudi nationals working as guides, representing their country and explaining its history to international visitors.
Training and incentivising Saudis
Since 2020, the kingdom has created more than 649,000 training opportunities for current and aspiring tourism professionals, the tourism ministry said this week.
Women represent around 46 per cent of the total Saudi workforce in the tourism sector, it said.
The kingdom is seeking to create more jobs for its nationals in non-oil industries such as tourism, aviation and hospitality, as part of its broader efforts to diversify away from hydrocarbons.
“Will Saudi nationals want these jobs? In the short term, only a few. Tourism has not traditionally been seen as attractive compared to public sector or office roles. But with sustained training, incentives and clear career ladders, more Saudis will step in over time,” Mr Lewis said.
Still, the policy signals to employers and the local workforce that the priority is to hire more Saudis in these licensed tourism establishments.
The move will encourage Saudi Arabia's population of more than 30 million people, many of whom are under 30 years old, to find jobs in the private sector, said David Mackenzie, group managing director of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones.
“It will create a new tranche of Saudi workers who don’t have to go into the high-paid government jobs,” he said, pointing to the example of Saudi tour guides who represent their country in mega-tourism projects.
“What they're trying to do in Saudi Arabia is to make sure that the tourism industry, their biggest growth market, has Saudis [working] in it,” he said.
The kingdom is learning from the mistakes of tourism hubs that have become overdeveloped by “figuring out a way to sustainable tourism”, Mr Mackenzie added.
Implications for expats
The new policy means employers will face heightened scrutiny on recruitment decisions, analysts say.
“Every non-Saudi hire will need justification, documentation, and proof that local talent was considered,” Mr Lewis said.
However, expats will remain an essential part of the tourism workforce in Saudi Arabia, particularly in specialised jobs, he said.
Skilled expats won’t disappear − chefs, engineers, event managers, revenue specialists will still be needed, but their entry point will narrow
Nevin Lewis,
chief executive of Black & Grey HR.
“Skilled expats won’t disappear − chefs, engineers, event managers, revenue specialists will still be needed, but their entry point will narrow,” according to Mr Lewis.
The new policy will require time to implement as expats will remain essential for filling jobs at mega-tourism projects, such as Qiddiya and others.
“You won't get a Saudi standing on top of a log flume [at an amusement park] saying 'you're next'. It will be a non-Saudi,” Mr Mackenzie said, noting that an expat with more experience and on lower wages would be a more likely candidate.
Travel and tourism ambitions
Saudi Arabia has outlined ambitious plans to develop its tourism sector by boosting air connections, investing in airports and starting a new airline to drive more international visitors to the kingdom.
The kingdom received 116 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, a 6 per cent increase compared with 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Total tourism spending for domestic and inbound travel reached about 284 billion Saudi riyals ($75.7 billion), an 11 per cent year-on-year increase.
More than 128 million passengers travelled through the kingdom’s airports in 2024, up 15 per cent year-on-year and a 25 per cent jump from pre-pandemic levels, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Major airport capacity upgrades are planned to receive more travellers. Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport is projected to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. Similarly, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing a phased expansion that will boost its capacity from around 50 million passengers currently to 100 million by 2035.
Start-up airline Riyadh Air is expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2025, with plans to serve more than 100 international destinations by 2030.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
First-round leaderbaord
-5 C Conners (Can)
-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);
-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)
Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)
Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng)
1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)
3 R McIlroy (NI)
4 D Johnson (US)
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
Dubai Rugby Sevens, December 5 -7
World Sevens Series Pools
A – Fiji, France, Argentina, Japan
B – United States, Australia, Scotland, Ireland
C – New Zealand, Samoa, Canada, Wales
D – South Africa, England, Spain, Kenya
More coverage from the Future Forum
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
KYLIAN MBAPPE 2016/17 STATS
Ligue 1: Appearances - 29, Goals - 15, Assists - 8
UCL: Appearances - 9, Goals - 6
French Cup: Appearances - 3, Goals - 3
France U19: Appearances - 5, Goals - 5, Assists - 1
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Looming%20global%20slowdown%20and%20recession%20in%20key%20economies%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Russia-Ukraine%20war%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Interest%20rate%20hikes%20and%20the%20rising%20cost%20of%20debt%20servicing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Oil%20price%20volatility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Persisting%20inflationary%20pressures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Exchange%20rate%20fluctuations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shortage%20of%20labour%2Fskills%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20A%20resurgence%20of%20Covid%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYodawy%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Egypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarim%20Khashaba%2C%20Sherief%20El-Feky%20and%20Yasser%20AbdelGawad%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2424.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlgebra%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20MEVP%20and%20Delivery%20Hero%20Ventures%2C%20among%20others%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The First Monday in May
Director: Andrew Rossi
Starring: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, John Paul Gaultier, Rihanna
Three stars
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Dubai Creek Open in numbers
- The Dubai Creek Open is the 10th tournament on this year's Mena Tour
- It is the first of five events before the season-concluding Mena Tour Championship
- This week's field comprises 120 players, 21 of which are amateurs
- 15 previous Mena Tour winners are competing at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
