Work permits issued to private sector employees in Saudi Arabia have reached about 24.3 million in the last three years, as reported by Arab News.
The work permits issued come from a number of different sectors with 'professional services and engineering' accounting for about 45 percent of said licenses.
In 2016, the number of licenses given out went down 3 percent, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
That same year 8.25 million licenses were granted - compared to the 8.52 million issued in 2015.
Work permits for foreign workers increased 65 percent over the past three years.
Foreigners, who make up 11.7 million of the population with 7.4 million in the workforce, were reported to have registered the highest number of work permits in areas including Riyadh, Mecca and the Eastern Province.
However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for foreign workers.
In May, the kingdom's Ministry of Civil Service asked all ministries and government departments to terminate all contracts with expatriate workers within three years.
The ministry also made several amendments to adhere to the kingdom's Vision 2030, which plans to boost employment among the kingdom's local population.
A majority of the changes were announced in 2017.
In April, Saudi Arabia blocked foreigners from working in shopping malls
In April, Saudi Arabia's ministry of labor and social development issued an order limiting jobs at shopping malls to Saudi nationals.
The announcement did not elaborate on the number of jobs affected nor the timeline for implementation. It was, however, explained that "coordination with the 'Saudization' committees" across the kingdom was underway.
The decision came in line with the kingdom's plans to boost employment, especially in the private sector, among the kingdom's local population.
It also aims to cut down unemployment "rates from 11.6 percent to 7 percent" under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
In June, Saudi Arabia began training its citizens to work in jobs filled by expats
In June, the kingdom began offering short technical courses – including household electronics and computing – to both Saudi men and women.
The move came as part of the kingdom's many efforts to build a more self-reliant economy, easing the country's dependence on foreign labor.
In July, Saudi Arabia announced its plans to ban foreign workers in grocery shops
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced a draft decision that seeks to make jobs at grocery stores 100 percent Saudized.
How?
By banning non-Saudis from working in grocery stores, confectionery shops and those selling supply and consumer goods.
The restrictions are expected to create 20,000 job opportunities for Saudis during the first year of implementation.
670,000 expats are expected to leave Saudi Arabia by 2020
In a report published earlier this year by Banque Saudi Fransi, it was revealed that 670,000 expats are expected to leave Saudi Arabia by 2020.
According to the study, the annual rate at which thousands of them are expected to leave the kingdom stands at 165,000. The key reason for their departure is mainly caused by their inability to keep up with rising expat levies.
"Because my three children and wife live here with me, the amount I am going to have to pay annually will certainly take a toll on us. I already pay rent, school fees, and so many other expenses out of my own salary and I now have to add this to the list," A.K., an expat construction foreman who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for the past eleven years, once told StepFeed.
In July, a new expat tax - which affects expatriates and their dependents - came into effect. The newly imposed tax will be paid annually when a residence visa is sent for renewal or when a new visa is being issued.
It is also estimated to bring in an annual $20 billion.