Saudi Arabia Leave Laws

Holidays

• • There are three public holidays in Saudi Arabia
    • 23rd May to 27th May – Eid Al Fitr Holiday (End of Ramadan)
    • 29th July to 2nd August –  Eid Al Adha Holiday (Feast of the Sacrifice)
    • 23rd September – The Day of the Unification of the Kingdom

Accruals

PTO (Paid Time Off)

• Vacation/Annual Paid Leave

Employees who have been employed for one year for the same employer are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave per year. After 10 years of employment, the entitlement is increased to 21 days of paid annual leave per year. 

Employees are also entitled to 10 days of unpaid leave per year, in agreement with the employer.

• Rollovers and payout of unused hours

• Use-it-or-lose-it policy 

The employees can defer their annual leave or a certain number of days to the next following year. The employees must use their annual leave. The employer has the right to choose the dates of such annual leaves according to work requirements or to grant the annual leaves on a rotational basis to ensure the proper conduct of his business.

• PTO payout at the termination

If the employee leaves the work, he or she shall be entitled to receive pay for unused annual leave days due in respect of the period for which he or she has not taken his or her vacation. He or she shall be entitled to annual leave pay for fractions of the year, in proportion to that part of the year which he or she has spent at work.

If the employees’ service terminates, their wages shall be paid immediately. However, if the employees leave the work their wages may, in this case, be paid within seven days.

Maternity Leave, Child Raising Leave, Parental Leave

Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees are entitled to 10 weeks of leave that can begin no earlier than 4 weeks from the expected due date. If the woman has been employed for at least 1 year, maternity leave is paid at the rate of 50% of the regular pay. Employees who have been employed for at least 3 years are entitled to paid maternity leave, at the rate of 100% of the regular pay.  

A woman will not be paid for regular annual leave if maternity leave is taken within the same year that full pay for maternity leave is received and will only receive payment of 50% of annual leave pay when maternity leave is also at 50% of the regular pay.

The expenses of medical examination and the costs of treatment and delivery are borne by the employer.

Paternity Leave

Employees are entitled to one day of leave with full pay for the birth of a child. Employees are required to provide their employers with documentation. 

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to 90 days of sick leave per year. First 30 days of leave are with full pay and for the next 60 days, employees are entitled to receive three – quarters of their regular pay. Employees are required to confirm their illness with a medical certificate. 

This applies to employers with 20 or more employees.  

Jury Duty Leave, and Voting Leave

Not specified by law.

Bereavement Leave

Employees are entitled to one day of leave with full payment due to the death of a close family member.

Military Leave

If the employer initiates termination of employment or the employee resigns due to military service or due to force majeure, the employee is entitled to a severance pay – half a months’ salary for each year of employment up to 5 years and 1 months’ salary for every year after.