Saudi Arabia has decided to abolish fees on expatriate labour employed at industrial facilities licensed under industrial permits.

An approval in this regard was granted in a meeting of the Saudi cabinet presided over by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The decision, based on a recommendation from the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, is aimed at supporting the kingdom’s industrial sector, strengthening the competitiveness of national factories and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the move would lower operating costs for factories, helping them expand production, improve efficiency and compete more effectively in global markets, while boosting non-oil exports.

He said the decision reflects continued government support for industry as a central pillar of economic diversification, adding that reduced costs would also accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation and artificial intelligence.

Alkhorayef noted that the government’s coverage of the expatriate levy over the past six years had played a key role in driving industrial growth.

Since 2019, the number of factories has risen from 8,822 to more than 12,000, while industrial investment increased 35 per cent to SR1.22 trillion.

Over the same period, non-oil exports grew 16 per cent to SR217 billion, employment rose 74 per cent to 847,000 workers, and industrial GDP expanded 56 per cent to more than SR501 billion, he said.

The ministry remains committed to attracting foreign investment and supporting long-term industrial expansion, with investment opportunities worth SR1 trillion planned across the sector, Alkhorayef added.