Saudi Arabia introduces regularization process for Yemeni workers

The Qiwa platform, under the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has detailed new mechanisms to regularize the status of Yemeni professional workers in the Kingdom. Under these measures, new employers can issue temporary residency permits for workers who previously lacked formal residency, allowing them to complete the transfer of services to new establishments.

The initiative includes broad financial exemptions, specifically waiving accumulated unpaid work permit fees for eligible workers. This applies to those who were absent from work (huroob) with valid or expired residencies, those marked as absent without ever having been issued a residency, and those with expired residency permits. Additionally, workers with final exit visas may be included, provided those visas are officially canceled through the General Directorate of Passports.

To prevent the transfer of financial burdens, new fees and work permit costs will only be calculated from the date the worker officially transfers to the new employer. The grace period for utilizing these facilities began on October 11, 2026, and is set to last for sixty days. The initiative targets Yemeni professional workers who were absent from work prior to June 16, 2026.