Saudi Arabia does not intend to ban foreign labor

The Saudi Arabian minister of labor Ghazi al-Quseibi stressed that there is no intention in the government to impose a ban on the recruitment of foreign labor or getting rid of those arrivals that want to work in the kingdom.

The former ambassador to London explained that the decision on this matter was limited to reduction of the volume of the foreign labor force in order to bring back balance to the labor market and ensure job opportunities to the local labor force.

Observers considered the announcement made by the Saudi minister of labor as a positive indicator that would contribute to encouraging investment especially that the decision to "Saudize" jobs (give jobs to Saudi citizens) forces investors to move to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, because of the lack and shortage in needed technical skills among the Saudi citizens. It is not clear if future action by Saudi Arabia will be limited to allowing high skill foreign labor or the foreign labor force in general.