Nitaqat Calculator 2026
Choose the entity's registered economic activity and calculate its band using the ministry's published curve, workforce size, wage bands, Qiwa contract status and eligible special categories.
Rules reviewed 9 August 2026. This is an indicative estimate. Verify the official result in Qiwa.
Calculate your Nitaqat band
Use entity-level figures: combine branches owned by the same establishment that carry out the same economic activity.
Free. No login or Qiwa account required.
The five Nitaqat bands
Nitaqat classifies an entity as Red, Low Green, Medium Green, High Green or Platinum. Each Green and Platinum boundary is calculated from the entity's registered economic activity, workforce size and the constants published for the relevant year.
- RedBelow the Low Green boundary. The ministry guide lists restrictions on new visas, profession changes, employee transfers and work-permit services.
- Low GreenThe first Green band. Some services remain restricted, so a narrow margin above the boundary deserves close monitoring.
- Medium GreenAt or above the second published boundary for the activity and entity size.
- High GreenAt or above the third boundary, with broader ministry service access than Low Green.
- PlatinumAt or above the highest published boundary for the activity and entity size.
Yellow was removed effective in 2020. Developed Nitaqat took effect on 1 December 2021; the current guide supplies the 2026 to 2028 constants.
See all official 2026 activity thresholdsWhat this Nitaqat calculator applies
The calculator first applies the official employee-counting weights, then compares the resulting Saudization percentage with the published curve for the selected activity, headcount and year.
Weighted Saudization rate = weighted national count ÷ entity workforce × 100
- 01Regular Saudi and GCC employees count as 1 at SAR 4,000 or more, 0.5 at SAR 3,000 to 3,999, and 0 below SAR 3,000.
- 02Eligible part-time, flexible-work, student, disability and released-prisoner categories receive their published weights and individual or combined caps.
- 03Saudi employees without a documented Qiwa contract are excluded, then the result is tested against y = m × ln(x) + c for the chosen activity and year.
Scope and limitations
- Use entity-level figures: combine branches owned by one establishment that carry out the same economic activity.
- The public ministry calculator is designed for entities with six or more employees. Very small entities require their applicable Qiwa treatment.
- Special-category inputs assume that every employee satisfies the stated wage, GOSI, exclusivity and programme conditions.
- Qiwa remains the official source because it uses registered records and workforce averages rather than self-entered figures.
Rules and sources reviewed: 9 August 2026
Official references
Nitaqat calculator questions
How is the Nitaqat band calculated in 2026?
The weighted Saudization percentage is compared with four activity-specific boundaries. Each boundary uses y = m × ln(x) + c, where x is entity headcount and the ministry publishes m and c for each activity, band and year.
Does Nitaqat use one establishment or the whole company?
The procedural guide defines an entity as all branches owned by one establishment that have the same economic activity. Enter the combined workforce for that entity, not an isolated branch, unless the branch is the entire entity.
How do salaries affect the Saudization rate?
A regular Saudi employee counts as 1 at a monthly GOSI wage of SAR 4,000 or more, 0.5 from SAR 3,000 to 3,999, and 0 below SAR 3,000. The same wage rules apply to GCC nationals treated as Saudis for Nitaqat.
How are Saudi employees with disabilities counted?
An eligible employee able to work can receive a weight of 4 if the Mowaamah-related conditions are met, the GOSI wage is at least SAR 4,000 and the employee is not counted at another entity. Individual and combined percentage caps limit the enhanced weight.
Does the calculator include students and flexible workers?
Yes. Eligible part-time Saudis count as 0.5, eligible flexible workers as one third, and eligible students as 0.5 subject to activity and combined caps. The form states the minimum conditions that must be satisfied before entering them.
Do Saudi contracts have to be documented in Qiwa?
Yes. MHRSD announced that from 15 April 2026, documenting a Saudi employee's contract in Qiwa is a fundamental requirement for inclusion in the Nitaqat Saudization rate.
Is the Yellow Nitaqat band still used?
No. The Yellow band was removed by a decision published in 2019 and effective in 2020. It was not removed by the 2026 guide.
When did Developed Nitaqat start?
Developed Nitaqat took effect on 1 December 2021. The 2026 procedural guide continues that model and publishes constants for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Can I calculate Nitaqat for fewer than six employees?
This calculator does not issue a band below six employees because the official public calculator is designed for six or more and very small entities can be subject to separate treatment. Check the entity directly in Qiwa.
Why can this result differ from Qiwa?
The calculator uses the activity, year and employee categories you enter. Qiwa uses the registered activity, official employee records, workforce averages and verified eligibility, so its classification is authoritative.
Do I need a Qiwa account to use this calculator?
No. The calculation runs in your browser without login. You need access to Qiwa only to verify the official entity classification and employee records.
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