New Hotel Staffing Rules Proposed for Saudi Tourism Sector

Hotels and other tourist accommodation providers in Saudi Arabia could soon be required to meet new minimum staffing levels under draft regulations released by the Ministry of Tourism for public consultation.

The proposal would tie staffing requirements to both an establishment's classification and its number of rooms. Under the draft, luxury five-star hotels, hotel villas, hotel apartments and resorts would need to maintain three employees per room, while standard five-star hotels would require four employees for every five rooms. Four-star establishments would need three employees per five rooms, three-star properties two employees per five rooms, and two-star establishments one employee per five rooms. One-star and unclassified facilities would require one employee for every ten rooms.

Separate ratios are proposed for other accommodation types, including hostels, heritage hotels, serviced apartments and holiday homes. The ministry said establishments would be required to maintain the minimum staffing levels throughout the year.

Existing licensed facilities would have up to 180 days to comply once the regulations come into force, while properties upgrading to a higher classification would have 90 days to reach the required staffing levels. Compliance would be verified using employment records from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, including workers registered directly or through affiliated operating companies on the Ajeer platform.

Monitoring and penalties under the Tourism Law are scheduled to begin on January 1st, 2027, if the draft regulations are adopted. The proposal comes as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its tourism sector, with the ministry projecting around 123 million domestic and international tourists in 2025 and tourism spending of approximately SAR 304 billion.