Regional Social Security & Employment Regulatory Updates | GCC

3 minute read
August 27, 2026

In brief

Social Security and Labor Ministries across the GCC are continuously advancing their regulatory and administrative frameworks to enhance employee protection and strengthen employer compliance. These efforts reflect a wider regional emphasis on safeguarding employees, promoting transparency, and accelerating the digitalization of government services.

This alert provides a detailed overview of key regulatory and administrative updates relevant to employers operating in KSA, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.

Social insurance contributions for Saudi nationals will increase by 1% from 1 July 2026.
Premium Residency holders now require a work permit via Qiwa.
Continued rollout of the Unified Employment Contract initiative.
Effective April 2026, Qiwa compliance became mandatory for Nitaqat ratio

Effective 19 July 2026, Royal Decree 52/2023 implemented the additional 1% Sick Leave and Extraordinary Leave Insurance branch under the Social Protection Law.
Effective June 2026, Royal Decree No. 65/2026 introduces a 0.5% Job Security contribution from both employers and employees for eligible Omani nationals working in GCC countries.

Bahrain's LMRA has introduced a new EMS service enabling non-resident employers without a Bahraini ID or eKey to authorise a representative to act as their Wage Responsible Person (WRP) under the Wage Protection System (WPS), ensuring continued payroll compliance.

Upcoming Nafis related updates expected to take effect from September 2026, aimed at supporting Emiratization and increasing private sector participation.

Download the full alert