Saudi Arabia SSCO Occupation Code 516901: Desert Guide

Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations (SSCO 2026)
Occupational Code: 516901 | Major Group: Service and sales workers (Group 5)

Job Summary & Primary Duties

Accompany the travelers on their trips to deserts and unexplored lands, provide technical expertise regarding local area and terrains and ensure that travelers’ health and safety are maintained.

Occupational Hierarchy & Key Facts in Saudi Arabia

Parameter	Official Specification
Saudi SSCO Code	`516901`
Official Title (EN)	Desert Guide
Official Title (AR)	Desert Guide
Major Group	Service and sales workers (Group 5)
Sub-Major Group	Personal service workers
Minor Group	Other Personal Services Workers
Unit Group	Personal services workers not elsewhere classified
Standard Classification	Unified Saudi Occupational Classification (SSCO 2024–2026)
Primary Platforms	Qiwa Portal (منصة قوى) & GOSI (التأمينات الاجتماعية)

Code	Title (EN)	Title (AR)	Details
`516201`	Personal Assistant	Personal Assistant	View Occupation 516201 →
`516301`	Mortician	Mortician	View Occupation 516301 →
`516302`	Funeral Director	Funeral Director	View Occupation 516302 →
`516303`	Taxidermist	Taxidermist	View Occupation 516303 →
`516401`	Groom	Groom	View Occupation 516401 →
`516402`	Animal Trainer	Animal Trainer	View Occupation 516402 →

Qualification & Competency Profile

Recommended Education Level: Lower secondary education
Field of Study / Discipline: Personal skills and development
Core Professional Competencies: Team Work
Labor Compliance: Regulated under Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) guidelines.

Labor Compliance & Regulatory Risk Assessment

Assessment Parameter	Status	Compliance Detail
Official GASTAT SSCO Registry	✅ Verified	Standardized in Unified Saudi Classification of Occupations 2026
Qiwa Platform Contract Authentication	✅ Active	Authorized for instant digital contract issuance in Qiwa portal
GOSI Social Insurance Integration	✅ Compliant	Automatic wage protection and social insurance registration
Professional Council Accreditation	✅ Standardized	Council verification requirements defined (SCE, SOCPA, SCFHS)
Nitaqat Saudization Contribution	✅ Eligible	Contributes 1.0 unit to Saudization quota (minimum SAR 4,000 wage)
Overall Labor Compliance Readiness Score	🟢 10 / 10	Low Compliance Risk / Ready for Qiwa Contract Filing

Qiwa, Visa & Saudization Context in Saudi Arabia

Qiwa Digital Employment Contracts: When issuing or authenticating employment contracts, employers in Saudi Arabia must select SSCO code 516901. Review our Qiwa Platform Guide.
Professional Accreditation: Regulated titles (such as Engineers, Healthcare Specialists, Financial Auditors) require pre-approval from the relevant Saudi professional council (Saudi Council of Engineers, SOCPA, SCFHS).
Nitaqat Impact: For Saudi nationals employed under this code, full GOSI registration (minimum wage SAR 4,000) contributes 1.0 unit to the establishment’s localization score. Check our Nitaqat Saudization Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the official role definition of SSCO 516901?

SSCO 516901 designates Desert Guide (Desert Guide) under Saudi Arabia’s occupational classification framework.

2. How is this occupation registered in Qiwa and GOSI?

Employers select code 516901 when submitting digital employment contracts in the Qiwa portal and enrolling staff into GOSI.

3. Does this occupation require professional council accreditation in Saudi Arabia?

Regulated titles require accreditation from professional bodies (e.g. Saudi Council of Engineers or SOCPA) before work permit issuance.

Official Source Attribution & Disclaimer

Authority: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) — Unified Saudi Occupational Classification.

Labor Portal: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (Qiwa)

This reference page is provided for human resource compliance and job classification guidance in Saudi Arabia.