Gov’t Announces New Minimum Wages For Kenyan Workers in Saudi Arabia
Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia are expecting to see a salary raise after the Middle Eastern country announced a new minimum wage for all employees.
Starting next year, each worker in Saudi Arabia will be paid a minimum of 1,000 Saudi Riyals, or around Ksh34,455 each month.
The new compensation structure is set to take effect in February 2026 as part of the Kingdom’s ongoing labor reforms following modifications to the Kafala system.
The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh issued a statement announcing the latest update, requesting employees to confirm implementation of the higher minimum wages with their individual employers.
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— State Department for Diaspora Affairs | Kenya (@Diaspora_KE) November 15, 2025
“The Embassy wishes to inform all Kenyan workers that, effective February 2026, the Government of Saudi Arabia will implement a minimum salary of SAR 1,000 per month for all workers,” the statement read.
“This is in line with ongoing labour reforms following changes to the Kafala system.”
Furthermore, workers have been asked to raise difficulties as soon as possible to ensure compliance while also protecting their rights under the amended labour standards.
Previously, Saudi Arabia’s minimum salary was heavily dependent on the worker’s nationality, with Saudi nationals in the private sector earning a minimum of SAR 4000 (about Ksh 137,822).
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Meanwhile, Saudi nationals working in the public sector are entitled to a minimum pay of SAR 3000, or around Ksh103,366.
Previously, there was no formal minimum wage for foreign workers, leaving workers, including Kenyans, at the mercy of their employers in terms of wages.
The New York Times has an article that shows Kenya's shift in policy from exporting crops to exporting workers.
— Mwango Capital (@MwangoCapital) November 15, 2025
It then links this shift to the rising abuse of Kenyan domestic workers in Saudi Arabia where they are also paid about 40% less than Filipinos doing the same job. pic.twitter.com/4FGaWaW0OP
In October, the Saudi Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development jointly announced the launch of a new standardised contract to safeguard workers and improve processes in order to attract worldwide investment.
The program implemented new procedures for documenting an employment contract as part of a new enforcement model in order to eliminate wage disputes and improve workplace transparency.
Gov’t Announces New Minimum Wages For Kenyan Workers in Saudi Arabia
