Saudi Arabia Leave Policy: A Comprehensive Guide for Employers

Understanding Saudi Arabia's leave regulations is essential for multinational companies operating in the Kingdom. The Saudi Labor Law provides clear guidelines for various types of employee leave, ensuring both employer compliance and employee rights protection.

Annual Leave Entitlements

Employees in Saudi Arabia are entitled to 21 days of paid annual leave, which increases to 30 days after five consecutive years of service with the same employer. Employers must provide at least 30 days' notice before scheduling leave and cannot allow employees to waive their annual leave or receive cash compensation instead. For example, a technology company in Riyadh might stagger leave periods among team members to maintain operational continuity during peak business seasons.

Sick Leave Provisions

The Saudi sick leave policy offers substantial protection: 30 days at full pay, followed by 60 days at 75% salary, and an additional 30 days unpaid. Consider the case of a construction worker in Jeddah who required extended medical treatment – the structured sick leave policy ensured income stability during recovery while allowing the employer to plan for temporary replacements.

Maternity Leave Benefits

Female employees with 90 days of continuous service receive 10 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, with flexibility to take up to 4 weeks pre-delivery and 6 weeks post-delivery. A notable case involved a female executive in Dhahran who utilized the additional unpaid leave extension to care for her newborn while maintaining her position. Employers must provide nursing breaks of up to one hour daily upon the employee's return to work.

Paternity and Family Leave

Male employees with 90 days of service qualify for 3 days of paid paternity leave. While Saudi law doesn't currently mandate general parenting leave, many progressive companies like SailGlobal offer additional family-friendly policies to attract top talent.

Special Leave Categories

Bereavement leave provides 5 days for immediate family members, with extended provisions for Muslim women (4 months, 10 days) upon husband's death. Hajj leave offers 10-15 paid days for eligible Muslim employees to perform pilgrimage. Examination leave supports working students, with paid leave for initial attempts and unpaid leave for retakes.

Public Holidays 2025

Holiday	Date
Saudi Founding Day	February 22
Eid al-Fitr	March 31 - April 3
Arafat Day	June 5
Eid al-Adha	June 6-8
Saudi National Day	September 23

Proper leave management requires understanding these regulations and implementing compliant systems. SailGlobal's expertise ensures accurate calculation of paid leave entitlements and seamless compliance with Saudi labor requirements.

Saudi Arabia Leave Policy Guide 2025: Annual, Sick, Maternity Leave