Saudi Arabia: Licensed Worker Housing Now Required for 527 Professions
Qiwa says firms with more than 20 workers in 527 manual and technical professions must provide licensed shared housing. Paying a housing allowance does not exempt them.
Saudi ArabiaIn brief
- Saudi employers with more than 20 workers in the targeted professions must provide licensed shared housing, according to Qiwa.
- The rule covers 527 professions in four occupational groups, from farm workers and craftsmen to machine operators and labourers.
- Paying a housing allowance in the salary does not exempt an employer from providing licensed housing for these workers.
- Workers in other professions can be given either housing or a housing allowance.
- No start date or penalty amounts were included in the announcement.
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Organization | Qiwa – Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development |
| Official source | Saudi Gazette – reporting the Qiwa platform announcement ✓ saudigazette.com.sa |
Saudi Arabia has made licensed shared housing compulsory for a large group of blue-collar workers. According to an announcement from the Qiwa labour platform, reported by Saudi Gazette on 8 October 2026, any establishment with more than 20 workers in the targeted professions must house them in accommodation that is licensed and meets official technical and health standards.
The rule covers 527 professions. Employers cannot avoid it by adding a housing allowance to salaries.
The rule at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced by | Qiwa platform (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development) |
| Who must comply | Establishments with more than 20 workers in the targeted professions |
| Professions covered | 527, in occupational groups 6 to 9 of the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations |
| Housing allowance | Does not exempt the employer for targeted professions |
| Other professions | Employer may give housing or an allowance |
| Start date and fines | Not stated in the announcement |
Which jobs are covered
| Occupational group | Number of professions |
|---|---|
| Skilled agriculture, forestry and fish farming | 53 |
| Craftsmen and related trades | 179 |
| Factory and machine operators, assemblers | 218 |
| Elementary occupations | 77 |
| Total | 527 |
Workers are counted across the whole establishment, not branch by branch. The full list of job titles was not published with the announcement, so check your profession on your Qiwa contract.
The rule is part of the National Program for Developing Collective Housing, which sets standards for worker accommodation. Qiwa said the goal is to give workers a safe and healthy place to live.
What it means for job seekers
- Expect housing, not just an allowance. If you are offered a construction, factory, farm or labourer role with a larger Saudi employer, the company should provide licensed accommodation.
- Read your offer carefully. An offer that only lists a housing allowance for one of these jobs at a large firm may not meet the new rule. Ask the employer where you will live.
- Office and professional staff are not affected. Engineers, accountants, sales staff and similar roles can still receive a housing allowance.
Tips before you accept a Saudi job offer
- Check that your job title on the offer matches the one that will appear on Qiwa.
- Ask whether accommodation is provided and whether it is licensed.
- Keep a copy of your signed contract and check it on the Qiwa platform after you arrive.
Before you go, read how Saudi Arabia checks expat qualifications before arrival and our Saudi end-of-service award guide.
Also check the latest Saudization rules for marketing, sales and admin jobs.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Which workers must be given company housing in Saudi Arabia?
Workers in 527 professions listed under occupational groups six to nine of the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations, when their establishment has more than 20 workers in those professions.
Can my Saudi employer pay a housing allowance instead of housing?
Not if you work in one of the 527 targeted professions at a covered establishment. Qiwa says an allowance does not replace licensed housing. For other professions, an allowance is still allowed.
What are the 527 professions in the Saudi housing rule?
They fall into four groups: 53 agriculture, forestry and fish farming jobs; 179 craft and trade jobs; 218 factory, machine operator and assembly jobs; and 77 elementary occupations.
Do office workers in Saudi Arabia have to live in shared housing?
No. Qiwa says workers in non-targeted professions are not subject to the shared accommodation requirements.
Apply only through the official source.
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