HRDF (Hadaf) 2026: Programmes, Support, and Free Platforms for Saudis
Guide to Saudi Arabia's Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) — employment support, financial subsidies, free training via Doroob and Taqat, and registration steps.
The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF, known as "Hadaf") is a Saudi government body founded in 2000, now one of the most important arms of employment and training support in the Kingdom. It operates under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Services accessible at hrdf.org.sa or hrsd.gov.sa for related services.
Hadaf isn't just a training platform — it's a network supporting the Saudi's entire labour-market journey: from first job search, through vocational training, to wage-uplift support.
Three platforms under the Hadaf umbrella
| Platform | Function | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Hadaf (parent) | Managing support and major programmes | hrdf.org.sa |
| Taqat | Job matching between seekers and establishments | taqat.sa |
| Doroob | Free e-training | doroob.sa |
The account is unified across all three — register once through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath) with your Absher credentials, benefit everywhere.
Wage-support programmes for Saudis
These are the most searched Hadaf arms:
Employment support
Hadaf grants private establishments a portion of a new Saudi employee's salary for a set period (1-24 months). Practical effect: the establishment prefers hiring a Saudi because effective cost is lower.
Wage-uplift support
For Saudis whose salary crosses a specific threshold, Hadaf may support an additional raise as an incentive to stay in the job. Programme terms change annually.
On-the-job training support
Hadaf funds the full training cost of a Saudi for a number of months inside an establishment, and pays the Saudi a monthly stipend during training. The programme is known as Tamheer.
Vocational training programmes
Tamheer
- For recently graduated Saudis (6 months of training inside an establishment).
- Monthly stipend for the trainee.
- Certified upon completion.
- Access at tamheer.hrdf.org.sa.
Doroob
- A free e-training platform.
- Courses in freelancing, programming, marketing, languages, accounting.
- Digital completion certificates.
- Detailed in our Doroob article.
Professional certification support
Hadaf subsidises part of the cost of international certifications (PMP, CFA, Cisco…) for Saudis employed in specific fields, under the "Professional Certifications" programme.
Taqat — the employment brokerage
Taqat is the official employment portal for Saudis in the private sector:
| User | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Job seeker | CV registration, job matching, direct nomination |
| Establishment | Post jobs, search Saudi talent base, filter by city and specialty |
| Career adviser | Free professional guidance for registered Saudis |
Registration:
- Go to taqat.sa
- Sign in through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath) with your Absher credentials (name and ID pulled automatically)
- Complete your CV: certificates, experience, skills, languages
- Set preferred specialty and city
- Enable alerts for new matching jobs
Registering with Hadaf as a job seeker
This step precedes benefiting from any support programme:
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open hrdf.org.sa |
| 2 | Choose "Individual Account" → "New Registration" |
| 3 | Sign in through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath) with your Absher credentials |
| 4 | Select "Job Seeker" as primary status |
| 5 | Complete education and experience info (if any) |
| 6 | Upload your CV (optional) |
| 7 | Enable alerts for programmes matching you |
Support eligibility conditions
- Saudi nationality.
- Age band and educational level differ across programmes.
- Applicant must not already benefit from a conflicting programme (can't combine Tamheer with standard employment support).
- Serious Taqat registration (non-empty CV).
Common mistakes that hurt your chances
- CV without detailed experience: Taqat won't nominate you.
- Refusing two consecutive interviews: may lower your ranking for 60 days.
- Outdated email and mobile: you miss alerts.
- Programme conflict: don't register for Tamheer while in another supported job.
Related articles
HRDF and Saudization (Nitaqat)
HRDF doesn't work in a vacuum — it's tightly coupled with the Nitaqat programme, managed by the Ministry of Human Resources, which classifies private-sector establishments by their Saudi-employment ratio into Platinum, Green (three tiers), or Red bands. Establishments in higher bands receive:
- Priority in work-permit processing for their non-Saudi employees
- Larger HRDF subsidies when hiring Saudis
- Advantages in government tenders with Saudization preference weighting
Practically: an employer hires a Saudi for two complementary reasons — lowering their cost through HRDF support, and raising their Nitaqat classification for further government benefits. This double incentive made Saudization more commercially viable for employers, not just an administrative obligation.
Does HRDF Support Women's Employment Specifically?
Yes — HRDF has dedicated arms for hiring Saudi women:
| Programme | Target audience | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Women's employment support | Employers | Higher subsidy rate when hiring female Saudis |
| Remote work | Women working from home | Formal employment path via Taqat with proper contract |
| Business incubators | Female entrepreneurs | Small-project funding through HRDF partnerships |
| Women's Tamheer tracks | Recent female graduates | On-job training with a monthly stipend |
To maximise benefits, women employers or job seekers should complete the women's account within Taqat so they receive automatic nomination for these tracks.
HRDF by the Numbers
HRDF publishes annual impact reports available on its official site. These reports show beneficiary numbers, spending volume, and the retention rate one year later. The most important metric for the Saudi applicant: retention rate per programme — the higher it is, the more successful the programme is at keeping the Saudi in their job, not just placing them.
Sources:
الأسئلة الشائعة
The Human Resources Development Fund, a Saudi government body that supports employing and training Saudis. It provides financial support to establishments that hire Saudis, free courses, and employment programmes like Taqat.
Saudi job seekers, newly employed Saudis in the private sector, and establishments hiring Saudis. Main URL: hrsd.gov.sa/hrdf; Taqat: taqat.sa; Doroob: doroob.sa.
Not directly — support usually goes to the establishment to reduce the cost of hiring a Saudi. But some programmes pay the training provider, and some pay the trainee (like Tamheer).
Go to taqat.sa, sign in through the National Single Sign-On (Nafath) using your Absher credentials, complete your CV, activate job search. The platform matches private-sector jobs to your skills and manages applications and interviews.
Hadaf = the parent institution (the fund). Doroob = the free e-training arm. Taqat = the job-matching arm. All three under one umbrella, with a unified account.
Part of the series: Job Search & Hiring
Article 5 of 6Jadarat for government hiring, plus Hafiz, Tamheer, HRDF and Doroob — registration, eligibility and support.
- 1.Jadarat 2026: Complete Your Profile 100% to Land a Government JobPillar guide
- 2.Saudi Job Seeker Rights 2026: Complete Guide to Available Support
- 3.Hafiz Programme 2026: Registration, Eligibility, and Support for Job Seekers
- 4.Tamheer Programme 2026: On-the-Job Training for Saudi Graduates
- 5.HRDF (Hadaf) 2026: Programmes, Support, and Free Platforms for Saudis
- 6.Doroob Platform: Best Free Government Courses for Saudis 2026
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