Saudi Arabia has approved the abolition of expatriate worker fees for licensed industrial establishments, a move aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s industrial base and accelerating economic diversification.
The decision was made during a Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, following a recommendation from the Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA), according to the Saudi Gazette.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the removal of expatriate levies would support sustainable industrial development and ease financial pressure on manufacturers.
He described the step as part of the government’s continued backing of the industrial sector under Vision 2030. The policy, he said, will improve the Saudi industry’s global competitiveness and expand the reach of non-oil exports in international markets.
Saudi Arabia aims to reduce its dependence on oil revenues by diversifying its economy and strengthening domestic manufacturing. Alkhorayef said the decision would attract high-quality investments and lower operating costs for factories.
Saudi Arabia has revoked fees imposed on expatriate workers in industrial establishments licensed under an industrial licensehttps://t.co/IhoCc3UFXd
— Saudi Gazette (@Saudi_Gazette) December 17, 2025He added that reduced costs will allow industries to expand production and adopt modern manufacturing models, including automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced industrial technologies.
Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan’s largest source of overseas remittances. Pakistani workers sent $753 million from the Kingdom in November, followed by $675 million from the United Arab Emirates.
Read: Cardi B Goes Viral in Saudi Arabia After Riyadh Performance
Saudi media reports indicate that Pakistan sent 1.88 million workers to Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2024, a 21% increase from 1.56 million during 2015–2019.
Islamabad is now seeking to double its annual manpower exports to Saudi Arabia to one million workers, following the signing of a landmark defence agreement in September.
Pakistan’s labour exports have traditionally focused on construction, healthcare, and hospitality. However, the federal government is now working to expand opportunities into new industrial and technical sectors, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s evolving economic needs.
