Nitaqat (Arabic for 'ranges' or 'bands') is the framework used by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development to measure and enforce Saudization in private-sector establishments. Companies are scored on the proportion of Saudi nationals in their workforce and placed into color-coded categories, commonly described as platinum, green, and red zones.
A company's band affects practical privileges, such as the ability to issue new work visas, renew Iqamas, and transfer employees. Establishments in higher bands generally enjoy more flexibility, while those in a low band can face restrictions until they improve their Saudization ratio.
The exact thresholds, band names, and the privileges tied to each band are set by MHRSD and have been revised over time and by sector and company size, so an establishment should verify its current classification and requirements through Qiwa rather than relying on older figures.