What WPSs do welders qualify on?

Welding procedure specifications are project-specific and depend on materials, joint configurations, and welding positions in the scope of work. When you share your WPS specifications, our partners screen welders for matching qualifications. Welders not pre-qualified on your specific WPS can typically take a welder qualification test at the partner's facility before mobilisation.

What about welding inspectors and NDT inspectors?

Welding inspectors holding CSWIP 3.1/3.2.1 or AWS CWI certifications and NDT inspectors holding ASNT Level II in RT, UT, MT, or PT are a separate category from welders themselves. We supply both. Mention QC inspection requirements alongside welder needs and we will route accordingly.

Hire Welders in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's oil and gas, petrochemical, construction, and manufacturing sectors run on welded infrastructure — pressure vessels, process piping, structural steel, pipelines, and pre-fabricated assemblies. Manpower Agency Saudia connects employers with partner agencies supplying certified welders across every common process: TIG, MIG, SMAW (stick), FCAW, and combinations. Whether you need 6G-certified pipe welders for an Aramco-approved refinery shutdown in Jubail, structural welders for a Riyadh mega-project, or a mixed crew for a Yanbu turnaround, the partner network has the specialisation.

Quick answer: Our partners supply TIG, MIG, SMAW, FCAW, and multi-process welders certified to ASME Section IX, with 6G position certification and Aramco-approved or SABIC-approved welders available for refinery and petrochemical work. Mobilisation runs 5–10 days for pre-cleared shutdown crews and 10–21 days for standard placements. WhatsApp +966 55 800 4278 with your weld procedure specs.

Welder Categories We Supply

Welder type	Common use	Typical certifications
TIG welders (GTAW)	Stainless steel, exotic alloys, root passes on high-pressure piping, sanitary welding	ASME IX, 6G TIG, sometimes ASNT
MIG welders (GMAW)	Carbon steel structural work, light-gauge fabrication, automotive-style assembly	ASME IX, AWS D1.1
SMAW (stick) welders	Structural steel, pipeline welding, field work, repair welding	ASME IX, 6G SMAW, AWS D1.1
FCAW welders (flux-cored)	Structural fabrication, high-deposition production welding	ASME IX, AWS D1.1
Multi-process welders	Combination work requiring two or three processes (e.g., TIG root + SMAW cap)	Multiple ASME IX qualifications
6G pipe welders	All-position pipe welding for refinery, petrochemical, oil and gas piping	ASME IX 6G, often Aramco/SABIC-approved
Structural welders	Mega-project structural steel, bridge work, heavy fabrication	AWS D1.1, AWS D1.5, ASME IX
Welder fitters	Combined pipe fitting and welding for shop and field fabrication	ASME IX + pipe fitter trade certifications
Tube welders	Boiler tube, heat exchanger tube-to-tubesheet welding	ASME IX, specific OEM training
Aluminium / exotic alloy welders	Specialised material welding for aerospace, marine, food-grade applications	ASME IX with material-specific qualifications

Why Welder Certification Matters in Saudi Arabia

Saudi welder placements are more certification-gated than general construction trades. The reasons:

Aramco contractor approval — Saudi Aramco runs its own welder qualification programme on top of standard ASME Section IX certification. Aramco-approved welders are pre-cleared for Aramco operating sites, which dramatically simplifies mobilisation
SABIC and petrochemical operator approvals — SABIC, Saudi Kayan, Sadara, Sipchem, YANSAB, and Yanpet maintain their own contractor approval procedures, often built on top of Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu standards
Royal Commission standards — Industrial cities at Jubail and Yanbu enforce specific contractor approval requirements covering welder qualifications, HSE certifications, and access protocols
Welding procedure specifications (WPS) — Different projects require welders qualified on specific WPSs covering particular materials, joint configurations, and welding positions
Iqama profession classification — Under current MHRSD Ajeer rules, welder Iqama classifications must match their actual deployed role. Profession mismatches are flagged as compliance violations

Our welder-specialist partners maintain candidate databases organised by certification stack and operator approval, enabling fast assembly of crews meeting specific project requirements.

Industries Driving Welder Demand

Oil & Gas (Largest Source)

Saudi Aramco's upstream and downstream operations, SABIC and affiliate petrochemical plants, and gas processing facilities in Dhahran, Jubail, Yanbu, Ras Tanura, and Jazan generate the largest single source of welder demand in the Kingdom. Most requirements involve 6G certified pipe welders with Aramco or SABIC approval. Read our oil and gas industry page for more.

Shutdown & Turnaround Windows

Concentrated 2-to-10-week deployments of welders during refinery and petrochemical plant maintenance generate intense seasonal demand. Pre-cleared welder pools are essential for the speed shutdowns require. Our shutdown and turnaround manpower service covers these windows specifically.

Construction & Vision 2030 Mega-Projects

Structural welding for NEOM, the Red Sea Project, Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, and other mega-projects creates concentrated structural welder demand. Mega-projects often have specific HSE and certification stacks on top of base trade qualifications.

Manufacturing

SABIC, MAADEN, and affiliated manufacturing operations generate ongoing welder demand for plant maintenance, expansion work, and fabrication shops. Read our manufacturing industry page.

Shipbuilding & Marine

The International Maritime Industries (IMI) yard at Ras Al Khair and other marine operations generate specialised welder demand including marine structural welding and pressure vessel work for vessel construction.

Need Certified Welders Fast?

Send your weld procedure spec and headcount via WhatsApp. Pre-cleared welder mobilisation runs 5-10 days.

Request Welders Now

Mobilisation Timelines

Welder mobilisation speed depends on three factors: candidate pool readiness, certification matching, and where the welders are located:

Pre-cleared shutdown welders (in-Kingdom, with current certifications and Aramco/SABIC approval) — 5 to 10 days
Standard in-Kingdom 6G welders via Ajeer transfer — 10 to 21 days
Multi-process specialist welders requiring specific WPS qualification — 14 to 30 days
Overseas welder recruitment from Pakistan, India, or the Philippines — 45 to 90 days including welder qualification test (WQT) in source country
Aramco-specific welder approval for new candidates — adds 2 to 6 weeks on top of standard recruitment timelines

Welder Source Countries

Common source country patterns for Saudi welder placements:

Pakistan — Largest single source country for Saudi welders. Strong volume across SMAW, FCAW, 6G pipe welding, and structural welding
India — Broad supply across all welding processes with strong quality benchmarks
Philippines — Particularly strong in TIG welding and specialised material welding
Bangladesh — Strong supply of SMAW welders and welding helpers
Nepal — Growing supply across SMAW and FCAW categories
Egypt and Sudan — Skilled welders particularly for Arabic-language environments

Cost Considerations

Welder pricing varies significantly by category. Key drivers:

Certification stack — Aramco-approved 6G welders command higher rates than non-approved welders. SABIC-approved welders similarly
Process specialisation — TIG welders for exotic alloys typically rate higher than SMAW structural welders
Shutdown vs steady deployment — Shutdown work pays hourly with overtime premiums; steady operations are typically monthly all-in
Source country — Filipino welders generally cost more than Pakistani or Bangladeshi welders for comparable certifications
Contract duration — Longer commitments often unlock more competitive monthly rates
Accommodation arrangements — Partner-provided camp accommodation rolled into rate; employer-provided accommodation deducts from rate

For benchmark ranges, see our cost of hiring workers guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Aramco-approved welder mean?

Saudi Aramco maintains its own welder qualification process on top of standard ASME Section IX certification. Aramco-approved welders have passed Aramco-administered welder qualification tests on specific procedures and materials. The approval is welder-specific (tied to the individual) and procedure-specific. Many Aramco contracts require Aramco-approved welders as a baseline.

How fast can you supply 6G welders for a shutdown?

For partners with active pre-cleared candidate pools, 5 to 10 days from order to on-site arrival is realistic. Pre-cleared means welders already in the Kingdom with valid Iqamas, current 6G certifications, and existing Aramco or SABIC approval where required. This is the fastest mobilisation path for shutdown windows.

Can welders be supplied for individual placements?

Yes. Welder requests range from single-welder placements through small crews of 5 to 10 for specific projects to bulk crews of 50+ for major shutdowns. Smaller requests typically go through partners specialising in individual placement; bulk requests go to partners equipped for camp accommodation and large-crew logistics.

What WPSs (welding procedure specifications) do welders qualify on?

WPSs are project-specific and depend on the materials, joint configurations, and welding positions in the scope of work. When you share your WPS specifications with us, our partners screen welders for matching qualifications. Welders not pre-qualified on your specific WPS can typically take a welder qualification test (WQT) at the partner's facility before mobilisation.

Do welders come with HSE training?

Yes. Standard HSE training including OSHA awareness, confined space entry, hot work permits, and H2S where relevant is baseline for welders being deployed to oil and gas or petrochemical work. Site-specific induction is provided by the contractor or plant operator upon mobilisation.

What about welder inspection (CSWIP, ASNT)?

Welding inspectors (CSWIP 3.1/3.2.1, AWS CWI) and NDT inspectors (ASNT Level II in RT, UT, MT, PT) are a separate category from welders themselves. We supply both. Mention QC inspection requirements in your WhatsApp message alongside welder needs and we'll route accordingly.

Are welders supplied through Ajeer outsourcing?

Yes, in most cases. Welders deployed for project work typically come through Ajeer manpower outsourcing — the supplying partner agency holds the welder's Iqama, files Ajeer permits, and runs WPS payroll. For permanent welder positions, direct-hire arrangements are also possible.

Welders by City

City-specific pages with operator-specific approvals, lead times, and demand context:

Reviewed by Manpower Agency Saudia Compliance Team — Welder qualification framework verified against ASME Section IX standards, AWS D1.1 / D1.5 structural codes, Saudi Aramco contractor approval procedures, SABIC and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu standards, and MHRSD Ajeer profession classification rules as of January 2026.