Every worker covered by the Saudi Labor Law is entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum is set by Article 109: 21 days, rising to 30 days after five consecutive years with the same employer. Your contract or your employer’s internal work regulations can give more, never less. This guide covers how many days you get, how dates are set, postponement, what happens to unused leave, overlaps with holidays and sick leave, and what to do if your leave is refused.
In short: at least 21 paid days a year, 30 days after five years with the same employer. The leave is paid in advance, cannot be swapped for cash during your employment and is paid out when the contract ends.
How many days?
| Length of service with the employer | Minimum annual leave | Accrued per month |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 consecutive years | 21 days | 1.75 days |
| 5 consecutive years or more | 30 days | 2.5 days |
These are minimums: a contract may give 30 days or more from the start. If your contract or the internal work regulations of your company give more, they apply. You can see your company’s work regulations on the Qiwa platform.
The leave is counted in days, and the Labor Law counts a month as 30 days unless your contract says otherwise. Official holidays falling in your leave are added on top (see below).
When does the 30-day entitlement start?
The increase to 30 days applies once you have spent five consecutive years with the same employer. Renewals of a fixed-term contract count as an extension of the original term for rights linked to length of service (Article 56), so years under successive renewals add up.
Leave pay: paid in advance
Article 109 describes annual leave as prepaid: your employer pays the leave wage before you leave. The days are paid at your wage.
To estimate the pay for a number of leave days, divide the monthly wage by 30:
| Monthly wage | Daily wage (÷ 30) | Pay for 21 days | Pay for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAR 4,500 | SAR 150 | SAR 3,150 | SAR 4,500 |
| SAR 6,000 | SAR 200 | SAR 4,200 | SAR 6,000 |
| SAR 9,000 | SAR 300 | SAR 6,300 | SAR 9,000 |
| SAR 15,000 | SAR 500 | SAR 10,500 | SAR 15,000 |
Who sets the dates?
Article 109 lets the employer set the dates according to work needs, or organise leave in rotation so that work continues. The employer must tell you the date of your leave at least 30 days in advance.
Agreeing the dates together and keeping a written record of the approval avoids disputes later.
Tip: for expatriates, plan your leave request together with your exit re-entry visa. The employer usually issues it, and since 2021 a worker can also request it through Absher or Qiwa; ask for leave and visa at the same time to avoid last-minute problems.
Can leave be postponed?
Article 110 allows two kinds of postponement:
| Who decides | Conditions | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Worker and employer together | The employer approves | Carried over to the following year |
| Employer alone | Work requires it | Up to 90 days after the end of the year the leave was due |
| Employer, beyond 90 days | Worker’s written consent | No later than the end of the following year |
So leave cannot be pushed back indefinitely: it must be taken at the latest by the end of the year following the year it was due.
No cash instead of leave
You must take your leave in the year it is due. The law forbids giving it up or receiving money instead while you are employed. The aim is that workers actually rest.
Watch out: an agreement to “sell” your leave during employment goes against Article 109. Take the days off; the cash value is only due when the contract ends.
Unused leave when the contract ends
When you leave the job, Article 111 entitles you to:
- the wage for all accrued days you did not take;
- leave pay in proportion to the part of the current year you worked.
Example 1. Your annual leave is 21 days and you leave after 6 months of the current year without taking leave. You are owed 10.5 days (6 × 1.75) for that year, plus any days carried over from previous years.
Example 2. Your leave is 30 days, your wage SAR 9,000 and you leave with 18 unused days. You are owed 18 × 300 = SAR 5,400.
Calculate your own balance with our unused leave calculator. These amounts are added to your end-of-service award in your final settlement. The employer must pay within one week if it ends the contract, or two weeks if you do (Article 88).
Official holidays during your leave
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) states that when an official holiday overlaps with annual leave, the leave is extended by the number of overlapping days.
Example. You take 21 days of leave and the 4-day Eid al-Fitr holiday falls inside it. Your leave is extended by 4 days.
The official holidays are Eid al-Fitr (4 days), Eid al-Adha (4 days), National Day and Founding Day: see public holidays in Saudi Arabia.
Annual leave and sick leave
- Article 82 lets the worker ask to combine sick leave with annual leave.
- An employer may not dismiss a worker for illness before the worker has used up the sick leave provided by the law.
- When an official holiday overlaps with sick leave, the HRSD states that the overlapping days are paid at full wage.
Sick leave itself (up to 120 days a year, with pay falling in stages) is explained in leave entitlements in Saudi Arabia.
Other kinds of leave
Annual leave is separate from the other leaves set by the Labor Law:
| Leave | Duration |
|---|---|
| Marriage | 5 days, paid |
| Paternity | 3 days, paid, within 7 days of the birth |
| Maternity | 12 weeks, paid |
| Hajj (once) | 10 to 15 days, paid |
| Sick leave | Up to 120 days a year |
| Compensatory leave for overtime | By agreement, up to 30 days a year |
Details in leave entitlements and working hours and overtime.
Unpaid leave
You may take unpaid leave if your employer agrees, for a period agreed between you. Beyond 20 days, the contract is considered suspended for the extra period, unless you agree otherwise (Article 116).
Working during your leave
Article 118 forbids working for another employer while on any leave provided for by the Labor Law. If the employer proves it, it may withhold the wage for the leave or recover the amount already paid.
If your leave is refused
- Check your contract, the internal work regulations on Qiwa and your leave balance.
- Make a written request with the dates and keep the reply.
- Use your company’s internal grievance procedure, which the HRSD says every establishment must provide.
- If unresolved, file a free amicable settlement request with the Ministry, then go to the labor court through Najiz if needed.
Common mistakes
- Thinking 30 days applies from the start: the legal minimum is 21 days until five consecutive years with the same employer, unless your contract gives more.
- Accepting cash instead of leave during employment: the law does not allow it.
- Forgetting holidays in your leave: Eid days that fall in your leave are added on top.
- Leaving without checking your balance: ask HR for your leave balance before your last day, so the settlement is correct.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do employees get in Saudi Arabia?
At least 21 days of paid leave per year, increased to at least 30 days once the worker has spent five consecutive years with the same employer (Article 109 of the Labor Law).
Can I sell my annual leave for cash?
Not while you are employed. The worker must take the leave in the year it is due and may not exchange it for money during service. Unused days are paid only when the contract ends.
Who chooses the dates of annual leave?
The employer can set the dates according to work needs, or organise leave in rotation, but must notify the worker at least 30 days in advance.
What happens if Eid falls during my annual leave?
According to the Ministry of Human Resources, the annual leave is extended by the number of official holiday days that overlap with it.
Is annual leave paid in advance?
Yes. Article 109 describes annual leave as prepaid: the leave pay is due before the worker goes on leave.
Can I add my annual leave to my sick leave?
Yes. Article 82 gives the worker the right to ask for sick leave to be combined with annual leave, and an employer may not dismiss a worker for illness before the sick leave entitlement is used up.
How many leave days do I earn per month?
With 21 days a year, a worker accrues 1.75 days per month worked; with 30 days a year, 2.5 days per month. This is what the employer uses to pay leave in proportion when the contract ends.
Official sources
- Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development — Labor Law (English translation): Article 2 (month of 30 days), Articles 56, 82, 88, 109 to 111, 116 and 118.
- HRSD — Awareness guide on the rights and duties of employers and workers: 21 and 30 days, 30 days’ notice, 90-day postponement, overlaps with holidays and sick leave, compensatory leave, grievance, amicable settlement and Najiz.
- HRSD — Friendly settlement for labor disputes: free amicable settlement before the labor court.
This information is for guidance only and may change. Always check with the relevant authority or its official website before starting a procedure. Spotted an error? Tell us.
