Saudi Arabia to launch instant visa service for small businesses

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to launch an instant work-visa service in December, through its Qiwa platform, designed to help new small businesses, Saudi Press Agency reported.

“It will enable young Saudis to launch start-up projects, open small businesses, boost economic growth and accelerate business expansion plans, which will have a positive impact on national development,” Ahmed Al-Rajhi, Minister of Labor and Social Development, said.

The ministry will provide a comprehensive set of integrated tools for small-business owners, along with a framework for nationalizing the workforce of such enterprises, after an initial grace period, under the Saudi nationalization scheme, Nitaqat.

“This will help to maintain the stability and continuity of the business during its early days,” Al-Rajhi said.

He also added that the ministry carried out a number of extensive studies to determine the requirements of small businesses for migrant workers, so that the new visa service meets their needs.