Saudi Arabia: Work permits granted for private sector employment, by administrative region (governorate) (2014)
| Governorate | Labour permits |
| Riyadh | 2,848,185 |
| Makkah | 1,779,868 |
| Madinah | 272,905 |
| Al-Qasseem | 308,175 |
| Eastern | 1,582,864 |
| Assir | 248,685 |
| Hail | 103,089 |
| Tabouk | 63,225 |
| Al-Baha | 37,204 |
| Northern Border | 34,086 |
| Al-Jouf | 54,825 |
| Jazan | 85,684 |
| Najran | 105,531 |
| Total | 7,524,326 |
Source: Ministry of Labour
1. Definitions
Classification used for economic activity is adapted from ISIC 3.1
2. Data collection methodology
The issuance of the work permits begins with filing an application with the Ministry of Labor.
After its approval, the Ministry of Labor forwards the application to the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of the residency permit.
3. Institution which provides data
Ministry of Labour
4. Data availability
The figures are published in the Ministry of Labour’s website (open data section) (in Arabic).
http://portal.mol.gov.sa/ar/Statistics/Pages/opendata.aspx?m=8
Last date of access: 18 December 2015.