Saudi Arabia is in the middle of one of the largest oil and gas investment phases in the world, led by Saudi Aramco. The Kingdom is expanding its gas business at pace, sustaining crude oil capacity, and growing downstream and chemicals under Vision 2030. Landmark projects such as the Jafurah unconventional gas development and the Tanajib Gas Plant are driving strong, sustained demand for skilled talent across the project lifecycle.
This guide explains how recruitment requirements change from Front End Engineering Design through fabrication, commissioning and operations in Saudi Arabia, how iktva and Saudisation shape hiring, and how a specialist recruitment partner helps operators and contractors mobilise the workforce they need.
Key takeaways
- Aramco is targeting an increase in sales gas production capacity of around 80 percent by 2030 compared with 2021 levels, one of the most ambitious gas expansions in the industry.
- Jafurah, the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, began production in December 2025 and is central to the Kingdom gas strategy, with output ramping through the decade.
- The Tanajib Gas Plant started up in December 2025, processing associated gas from the offshore Marjan and Zuluf fields, alongside major crude increment programmes.
- Recruitment needs shift across the lifecycle, from specialist FEED engineers, through fabrication and construction teams, to commissioning specialists and long-term operations personnel.
- The iktva local content programme and Saudisation goals mean local participation and supplier development are central to workforce planning.
- A blend of contract and permanent staffing helps match large construction peaks with long-term operations needs.
Why is Saudi Arabia a major oil and gas destination in 2026?
Aramco is delivering a huge gas expansion, targeting around 80 percent growth in sales gas capacity by 2030 over 2021 levels, while sustaining crude capacity and growing downstream. Flagship projects such as Jafurah and Tanajib are creating strong, sustained demand for skilled talent.
Saudi Arabia investment programme spans upstream oil and gas, downstream and chemicals, all aligned with Vision 2030. A central pillar is the drive to grow the gas business substantially, with Aramco targeting an increase in sales gas production capacity of around 80 percent by 2030 compared with 2021 levels, and total gas and associated liquids production projected to reach roughly 6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Jafurah is the centrepiece of that strategy. Described as the largest unconventional gas field in the Middle East, it began production in December 2025 and is expected to ramp toward around 2 billion standard cubic feet per day of sales gas by 2030, along with significant ethane and high-value liquids. Its scale makes it a long-term source of demand for engineering, construction and operations talent.
Alongside Jafurah, the Tanajib Gas Plant started up in December 2025 and is one of the largest gas processing facilities in the world, handling associated gas from the offshore Marjan and Zuluf fields. Major crude increment programmes and downstream projects add further breadth to the roles in demand across the Kingdom.
How do recruitment needs change across the project lifecycle?
Demand moves in stages. FEED needs specialist engineers, EPC and fabrication need construction and trades at scale, commissioning needs completions and controls specialists, and operations needs a stable, increasingly Saudi workforce.
1. Concept and FEED: engineering precision
Each major development begins with feasibility work and Front End Engineering Design. Saudi gas and downstream projects are technically demanding, so this stage calls for specialised process, gas processing, mechanical and civil engineers, plus project planners and cost estimators. Large unconventional gas developments such as Jafurah add a premium on experience with complex, liquids rich gas processing.
The most sought after candidates are those who have taken comparable gas processing or unconventional developments from FEED into execution, because their design choices directly influence cost, schedule and constructability.
2. EPC and fabrication: where projects are delivered
During Engineering, Procurement and Construction, workforce demand rises sharply. Saudi mega projects typically span several EPC contractors and fabrication yards, with very large, multinational workforces working to tight timelines. Construction managers, site supervisors, QA and QC specialists, skilled trades and HSE professionals form the backbone of delivery.
Coordination between contractors, suppliers and authorities places a premium on leadership, planning and communication, and on people who understand how large gas and downstream facilities are actually built and delivered.
3. Commissioning and start up: technical integration
As facilities move into commissioning, the focus shifts to system integration and operational readiness. Commissioning engineers, instrumentation and controls specialists and completions teams are in strong demand, and this is consistently one of the most talent constrained phases.
These roles require people who combine construction knowledge with operational awareness and can resolve technical issues under time pressure, which is especially important as multiple large gas facilities reach start up in similar windows.
4. Operations and maintenance: sustaining performance
Once operational, facilities need a stable workforce for safe, efficient performance. Operations managers, plant technicians and maintenance engineers become the focus, with strong demand for mechanical and electrical maintenance, integrity and inspection expertise. Workforce planning at this stage shifts towards Saudisation, ongoing skills development and long term retention.
Planning your workforce for a Saudi project? Talk to the WRS oil and gas team about mapping talent needs from FEED through to operations.
How do iktva and Saudisation shape hiring?
Aramco iktva local content programme and the Kingdom Saudisation agenda push operators and contractors to develop local suppliers and grow Saudi participation, so workforce plans must combine international expertise with local recruitment and development.
The iktva programme, In-Kingdom Total Value Add, is central to how Aramco drives local content, supporting domestic suppliers, manufacturing and jobs. Contractor performance against iktva is an important part of doing business in the Saudi oil and gas sector.
Alongside iktva, Saudisation encourages greater participation by Saudi nationals in the workforce. For recruitment teams, this means balancing experienced international specialists, who de-risk delivery of complex projects, with a structured plan to attract, develop and retain Saudi talent over the long term.
What staffing models work best for Saudi projects?
A blend of contract and permanent hiring. Contract staffing scales the workforce through large construction and commissioning peaks, while permanent hires anchor long-term operations, leadership and local capability.
Saudi mega projects run to demanding schedules and draw on very large workforces during construction. Flexible staffing strategies that can scale quickly are essential. Contract and project based hiring carries the load through fabrication and commissioning peaks, while permanent recruitment builds the stable operations core and supports iktva and Saudisation goals.
- Contract and project hires: engineering surge support, fabrication and construction oversight, commissioning specialists.
- Permanent hires: operations leadership, maintenance and integrity teams, HSE, and Saudi talent developed for the long term.
- Managed solutions: end-to-end workforce support across mobilisation, compliance and payroll for cross-border teams.
How WRS supports oil and gas recruitment in Saudi Arabia
Worldwide Recruitment Solutions is a specialist oil and gas recruitment partner with deep experience across upstream, gas processing and downstream projects. We help operators, EPC contractors and service companies secure the right people at every stage, from FEED engineering through fabrication, commissioning and operations.
We understand the iktva and Saudisation expectations that shape hiring in the Kingdom, and we support flexible staffing models including contract, permanent and managed solutions. That lets us help you blend international expertise with local talent development, and mobilise people quickly as your project moves from FEED to operations.
Building your team for a project in Saudi Arabia? Get in touch with the WRS oil and gas team today.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest oil and gas projects in Saudi Arabia right now?
Major projects include the Jafurah unconventional gas development and the Tanajib Gas Plant, alongside crude increment programmes such as Marjan and Zuluf and downstream expansion, all central to Aramco gas and Vision 2030 strategy.
Which roles are hardest to source for Saudi oil and gas projects?
Specialist gas processing and unconventional gas engineers are in high demand, along with commissioning, controls and construction management professionals, as several large gas projects run in parallel.
How do iktva and Saudisation affect recruitment?
They push operators and contractors to develop local suppliers and grow Saudi national participation, so workforce plans must combine international specialists with structured local recruitment, training and retention.
What staffing model suits a Saudi project?
A combination usually works best. Contract and project hiring scales the workforce through construction and commissioning peaks, while permanent hires build the stable operations core and support iktva and Saudisation goals.
How can a specialist recruitment partner help mobilise talent to Saudi Arabia?
A specialist partner such as WRS provides access to international talent pools, gas and downstream expertise, and compliance support, enabling faster and more reliable workforce deployment from FEED to operations.
