Managing employee leave and vacation entitlements is a critical aspect of compliance and employee satisfaction for companies operating in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Labor Law provides clear guidelines on various types of leave, ensuring employees receive adequate time off for rest, personal matters, illness, and significant life events. Understanding these regulations is essential for employers to maintain legal compliance and foster a positive working environment.
Compliance with Saudi Arabia's leave policies involves navigating specific requirements for annual leave accrual, public holiday observance, sick leave provisions, and various forms of personal leave. Employers must accurately track entitlements and ensure timely and correct payment during leave periods as stipulated by the law.
Annual Vacation Leave
Employees in Saudi Arabia are entitled to paid annual leave. The minimum entitlement increases with the employee's tenure with the employer.
- Minimum Entitlement: Employees are entitled to a minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave after completing one year of service.
- Increased Entitlement: After completing five continuous years of service with the same employer, the minimum annual leave entitlement increases to 30 days.
- Accrual: Leave accrues annually. Employees are generally required to take their leave in the year it becomes due, although the employer and employee may agree to postpone it to the following year.
- Timing: The employer has the right to determine the timing of the employee's annual leave, taking into account business needs, but must notify the employee at least 30 days in advance.
- Payment: Employees must be paid their vacation pay before they commence their leave.
Public Holidays
Saudi Arabia observes several official public holidays throughout the year. Employees are entitled to fully paid leave on these days. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the employer may compensate the employee with an alternative day off or payment, depending on company policy and labor law interpretation.
Major public holidays include:
- Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan)
- Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice)
- Saudi National Day (September 23rd)
- Saudi Founding Day (February 22nd)
The exact dates for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha vary each year based on the Islamic lunar calendar. For 2025, the approximate dates are:
| Holiday | Approximate 2025 Dates | Duration (Days) |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Founding Day | February 22 | 1 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Late March/Early April | 4 |
| Eid al-Adha | Early June | 4 |
| Saudi National Day | September 23 | 1 |
Note: Islamic holiday dates are based on moon sighting and may vary by a day or two.
Sick Leave
Employees in Saudi Arabia are entitled to paid sick leave, provided they present a medical report from an approved health center. The entitlement and payment structure depend on the duration of the sick leave within a single year.
The sick leave entitlement within any one year is as follows:
- First 15 days: Full pay
- Next 30 days: Three-quarters pay (75%)
- Subsequent days (up to a total of 90 days): Unpaid
An employee is not entitled to paid sick leave if the illness is a direct result of misconduct.
Parental Leave
Saudi Labor Law provides specific entitlements for maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
- Maternity Leave: A female employee is entitled to 10 weeks of paid maternity leave. This leave can be taken up to four weeks before the expected date of delivery and the remaining period after delivery. The employee is entitled to full pay if she has completed one year of service, or half pay if she has completed less than one year. After returning from maternity leave, for a period of 24 months, a mother is entitled to one hour per day for breastfeeding or childcare, which can be divided into two periods. This hour is considered part of the working hours and is fully paid.
- Paternity Leave: A male employee is entitled to 3 days of paid leave upon the birth of his child.
- Adoption Leave: An employee who adopts a child is entitled to 10 weeks of paid leave. This leave is available to both male and female employees and is subject to conditions similar to maternity leave regarding service duration for full or half pay.
Other Types of Leave
In addition to the main categories, Saudi Labor Law also provides for other types of paid leave for specific circumstances:
- Marriage Leave: An employee is entitled to 5 days of paid leave upon marriage.
- Bereavement Leave: An employee is entitled to 5 days of paid leave upon the death of a spouse or a direct relative (parents, children, siblings).
- Exam Leave: An employee enrolled in an educational institution may be granted paid leave to sit for exams, provided they obtain written approval from the employer and the duration of the leave corresponds to the number of exam days. This leave is subject to certain conditions, including the employee notifying the employer in advance and the exams being for a course related to their work or approved by the employer.
- Hajj Leave: Muslim employees are entitled to 10 to 15 days of paid leave to perform Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) once during their service, provided they have completed two continuous years of service with the employer. This leave is granted at the employer's discretion regarding timing and frequency beyond the first instance.
