Many expatriate families don't know that Saudi regulations provide a legal path for the husband or wife residing under the sponsorship of another expatriate worker to work — without the employer needing to fully recruit a new worker from abroad. This path is called "dependent work" ('amal al-murafiqin wal-murafiqat).
📜 The Legal Basis
Under Royal Order No. 36568 dated 27/7/1437H, it was approved that dependent work for legally-resident expatriate workers in the Kingdom serves as an alternative to recruitment from abroad, if the required position cannot be filled by Saudi men or women according to the lists available at the Ministry of Labor.
✅ The Full Six Conditions
- Dependent work must serve as an alternative to recruitment and comply with the Nitaqat program's controls, and the employer must meet all the usual recruitment requirements.
- The dependent must meet all requirements related to practicing the work, and must pass the professional competency tests required to practice the profession according to government requirements.
- This work must be limited to the husband, the wife, and the mahram (male guardian) of a working woman only.
- The position must be one that cannot be filled by Saudi men or women according to the lists available at the Ministry of Labor.
- Any additional conditions set by the Ministry of Labor for this path must be met.
- The procedure is subject to a regulatory mechanism set by the Ministry of Labor in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.
"Dependent work shall be limited to the husband, the wife, and the mahram of a working woman only."
This path is precisely limited to three cases: the husband of a working woman, the wife of a working man, or the mahram of a working woman. It does not cover other family members such as adult children in general, and it is not a broad alternative to the regular labor system — it is a narrow, condition-specific exception.
✅ What should you do now?
- Check with your employer (or your spouse's prospective employer) whether this path is available for the specific position needed.
- Confirm the position is among those that cannot be filled by Saudis according to the Ministry of Labor's lists.
- Prepare for any professional competency tests required for the target profession.
- Use Sanad to understand your exact legal steps and the documents required for this path.
- Royal Order No. 36568 dated 27/7/1437H — Arrangements for Approving Dependent Work for Legally-Resident Expatriate Workers in the Kingdom as an Alternative to Recruitment