HR software in Riyadh for small businesses
A small establishment in Riyadh deals with at least four government platforms: Qiwa for contracts, work permits and Nitaqat, GOSI for social insurance, Mudad for wage protection and Muqeem for expatriate residency. HR FLARE does not replace them; it prepares the data and files you need, in SAR and with Hijri dates.
Which platforms does a small establishment in Riyadh need?
Qiwa for documenting employment contracts, work permits, transfers and Nitaqat; GOSI for employee registration and contributions; Mudad for uploading wage protection files; and Muqeem for expatriate residency. All of them sit under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD).
Government platforms for a Riyadh establishment
HRSD sets the rules, and each platform covers one part of the employee lifecycle.
| Platform or authority | What you use it for | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| HRSD | The Labor Law, its Implementing Regulations and inspections | The rulebook behind everything below |
| Qiwa | Contract documentation, work permits, transfers and Nitaqat | In 2026 only Saudis with electronically documented contracts count towards Saudization |
| GOSI | Employee registration and monthly contributions | The contributory wage is basic plus housing, capped at SAR 45,000 a month |
| Mudad | Uploading wage protection files | The upload window is 30 days since 1 March 2025, down from 60 |
| Muqeem | Expatriate residency and exit and re-entry visas | Linked to the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) |
Before the first payroll in a new establishment
Before the first salary, an establishment usually needs a Qiwa file, every employee registered with GOSI from their start date, a bank account to pay from, and a link to Mudad for wage protection files. Many banks upload the processed wage protection file to Mudad on their clients' behalf, so ask yours.
Make sure the wage in your payroll file matches the wage registered with GOSI and in the documented contract: matching those sources is exactly what Mudad checks.
Contract documentation in Qiwa and Nitaqat
Qiwa's contract documentation service lets the employer upload a Saudi or expatriate employee's contract data, which the employee then approves from their own account; the contract is then documented with HRSD. HRSD has raised the required share of documented contracts in stages, and according to its April 2026 announcement only Saudis with documented contracts count towards Saudization, with targets of 85% by the end of April and 90% by the end of June 2026.
For contributions, see the GOSI calculator (Arabic) and our article on the 2024 Social Insurance Law (Arabic).
Private sector holidays and the weekend
Friday is the statutory weekly rest day and most establishments add Saturday. Private sector holidays under Article 24 of the Labor Law Implementing Regulations are Founding Day on 22 February, Eid al-Fitr for four days from the day after 29 Ramadan in the Umm al-Qura calendar, Eid al-Adha for four days from Arafat Day, and National Day on 23 September.
Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and Flag Day are not private sector holidays. From 15 June to 15 September, outdoor work in direct sunlight is banned from noon to 3 pm.
Typical HR tasks in Riyadh
- Documenting every new contract in Qiwa and following up on the employee's approval.
- Registering employees with GOSI from their start date and updating the wage after every raise.
- Preparing the bank payroll file and making sure the wage protection file reaches Mudad in time.
- Watching your Nitaqat band before any visa request.
- Renewing residency permits in Muqeem before they expire.
How HR FLARE helps in Riyadh
Real capabilities in the product today. The free plan covers up to 5 employees.
Saudi WPS payroll file
HR FLARE builds a WPS payroll file from your payroll run: basic salary, housing, other earnings, deductions and the national ID or Iqama number, for your bank and Mudad.
GOSI calculation
HR FLARE calculates employee and employer social insurance contributions from each employee's salary.
Payroll in SAR
Gross, deductions, net and payslips in SAR, with a full record of every run.
Holidays and weekend
Private sector holidays are pre-computed from the Umm al-Qura calendar and adjustable, and the weekend is configurable, for example Friday and Saturday.
Hijri dates
Dates show in Hijri next to Gregorian throughout the app.
AI assistant and MCP
Ask about your team in Arabic or English, or connect HR FLARE to Claude or ChatGPT over MCP.
What HR FLARE does not do
- No government platform connection: HR FLARE does not upload to Mudad, document contracts in Qiwa or register employees with GOSI. You or your bank upload the files.
- No Nitaqat calculation: your Saudization rate and band show in Qiwa, not in HR FLARE.
- Data location: data is hosted in Europe; in-Kingdom hosting is not available.
Frequently asked questions
Which government platforms does a new establishment in Riyadh need?
Why does Qiwa contract documentation matter for Saudization?
Does HR FLARE calculate GOSI contributions?
Does HR FLARE document contracts in Qiwa?
Is Hijri New Year a private sector holiday in Saudi Arabia?
Sources
- HRSD: Wage protection file upload service
- Qiwa: Establishment and workers' rights
- Gulf News: Authentication of job contracts mandatory
- Mercans: Qiwa platform and 2026 documentation targets
- Al-Eqtisadiah: The new Social Insurance Law
- TASC: Private sector holidays in Saudi Arabia
- Gulf News: Saudi midday outdoor work ban
Last reviewed 30 September 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice: always confirm with the official authority.
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