One important thing that you should not forget if you plan to work in Saudi Arabia as an engineer is the registration with the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). This is a requirement that fundamentally impacts the professional life of engineers in the whole country.
What is the Saudi Council of Engineers?
The SCE is a government body in charge of maintaining good standards in engineering, confirming the qualifications, and safeguarding the infrastructure of Saudi Arabia. It undertakes routine inspections and professional examinations besides backing various programmes related to Vision 2030.
Why is SCE Registration Mandatory?
SCE registration is a formal requirement imposed by law on all engineering personnel in Saudi Arabia. These include those from civil, electrical, mechanical, architectural, and technical fields. It is not allowed by law for an engineer to engage in legal practice while his iqama is being renewed unless he is registered with the SCE. Some errors in the most typical forms of unverified degrees or incorrect job titles can lead not only to the loss of your job but also to a decrease in your professional status.
Recent Industry Statistics
The SCE has exceeded the number of registered engineers, with over 305,000 engineers and more than 140,000 technicians registered nationwide. On the other hand, the Saudi government started to implement a “Saudisation” quota in July 2024. According to this quota, all private firms with engineering staff are required to allocate 25% of their engineering roles to Saudi nationals. Some criteria must be met before an individual can be considered for this quota, such as possessing a valid SCE certificate and having a monthly salary of more than SAR 7,000. The low rate of unengaged engineers in the country of Saudi Arabia, impacted by these measures, is 7.6% in Q1 2025, which means that the requirement of both locals and foreigners for the next large projects and advanced sectors has increased.
International Recognition and Mobility
International recognition is one of the greatest advantages of SCE registration. Saudi Arabia is part of several worldwide engineering partnerships, and credentials verified by the SCE are progressively being accepted by the companies that are located in the Gulf area and even farther.
Hence, foreign engineers who are working in Saudi Arabia get certified, which is the key not only to the doors of the country but also to those of neighbouring countries, thus making their professional growth and their transfer from one country to another possible.
Which Professions Require SCE Registration?
Any person who works in the fields of engineering, technical surveying, AutoCAD, or drafting, or has an engineering profession code on the Iqama that relates to engineering, must compulsorily sign up at SCE. This information is valid for both Saudis and expatriates.
Engineering Market Trends 2025
The engineering sector of Saudi Arabia is going great with the help of Vision 2030 and “giga-projects” such as NEOM and The Line. Just in June 2025, 83 new industrial licences were issued, and 58 factories valued at SAR 2.85 billion were opened. The job demand is going higher and higher in civil, infrastructure, and renewable energy engineering. Engineers might receive a salary from SAR 8,000 up to more than SAR 30,000 every month.
The professionals in the field of industry state that the firms are going to continue injecting money into artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and green urban development, which they say will lead to a rise in this kind of work.
Compliance and Technology Updates
Advancements in digital compliance have substantially simplified the SCE registration process, which is now quicker and more accessible than before. The council has introduced a completely online portal which allows not only the submission of documents but also the real-time tracking of the status; thus, the registration processing time has gone down to less than two weeks on average.
The city has employed these technological changes to improve various sectors throughout the kingdom as part of an overall move towards labour market reforms in Saudi Arabia, intending to ensure the highest level of workforce compliance and provide a more convenient handling of the matter to both employers and engineers.
How SCE Registration Benefits Engineers
The advantages of being registered are:
- You can work and renew your Iqama without any interruptions
- Show your official skills and qualifications
- Get access to the special training and career development that are not open to others
- Become the leader of the positions in the sectors that are growing rapidly
Registration Process, in Brief
Digital compliance advancements have greatly simplified the SCE registration process, making it more accessible and faster than before. A completely online council portal has been launched to enable file submission, as well as status tracking in real time. Hence, the registration processing time has considerably reduced to less than two weeks on average.
These changes in technology have been implemented in the city to modernise different industries throughout the country as part of a shift towards labour market reforms in Saudi Arabia aimed at achieving the highest level of workforce compliance and facilitating transactions for both employers and engineers.
Why Did Saudi Arabia Make the SCE Registration Law?
In order to protect the citizens of Saudi Arabia from fake degrees, encourage the local workforce, and improve the quality of projects, SCE registration is required in Saudi Arabia. The need for verifiable engineering skills in all large-scale projects is underscored by the policy reforms and nationalisation incentives introduced under the framework of Vision 2030.
How 6 Pence Can Help
6 Pence will assist you in efficiently completing the registration for SCE while ensuring professional compliance is maintained. We:
- Bring the engineers and HR teams through all the steps of the registration process.
- Provide support for degree attestation, document correction, and online submission.
- Provide advice and help with Saudi quotas, localisation requirements, and regulatory updates.
- Present the specialised recruitment and planned deployment for the sectors of construction, energy, and technology that are in high demand.
By cooperating with 6 Pence, engineers and employers get access to the right information, they can keep away from making costly mistakes, and they are in a position to secure their careers in the vibrant engineering market that is in Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: What is Huroob in Saudi Arabia
