Ministry: Saudi expats make up 27% of population

Saudi ministry of economy and planning said the expatriate workforce in Saudi Arabia accounts for 27 percent of population, stressing the need for sourcing large numbers of foreigners to meet development needs.

A recent ministry report, quoted by Makkah newspaper, called for a review of local demographics, especially given the large numbers of nationals who are set to access the job market under current population growth rates.

The current population growth needs to be offset by high-quality education services and other social services, said the report.

Economic and urban development endeavors shall focus on the building of medium- and small-size cities, which can be possible by leveraging public spending and encouraging local and foreign direct investments.

The ministry stressed the importance of building new residential areas to absorb population growth and enhance the competitiveness of national economy on the regional and international levels, citing economic cities as successful models.