Like any other country, the workers of KSA are also entitled to official leaves, holidays, and vacations. In this article, we have covered in detail about the leaves in KSA along with sample calculations.

1. A Guide on Statutory leaves in the
Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Leave policy is not just about granting leaves; it is about enlightening
employees about their entitlements and enabling them to avail of leaves as
per their convenience. Like any other country, the workers of KSA are also
entitled to official leaves, holidays, and vacations. In this article, we have
covered in detail about the leaves in KSA along with sample calculations.
Under Saudi Labor Law, employees will be granted with the following leaves.
 Annual leave
 Sick leave
 Maternity leave
 Special leaves (Hajj Leave)
 Compassionate leave
 Marriage leave
 Paternity leave
 Examination leave
 Iddah leave
 Official Public holidays
1. Annual Leave
According to Article 109 of the KSA Labor law, a worker is entitled to the
following days of Annual leave:
1. 21 days of annual leave, if an employee service period is less than 5
years.
2. 30 days of annual leave, if service tenure with the employer is more
than 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
3. Is annual leave in the KSA based on calendar days?
As per general practice, employers award employees annual leave
based on the calendar days.
4. Can a worker postpone his annual leaves?

2. A worker can postpone his annual leave to the following year with
the consent of the employer.
5. Can the employer determine when the employee leave will be
taken?
As per Article 110, employers are entitled to determine when
employees can take their leaves. The employer has the right to
postpone Annual leave to a maximum of 90 days after the year-
end. However, If work conditions require postponement, the
worker’s consent must be obtained in writing. Such postponement
shall not exceed end of the following year from when the leave is
due.
6. Can an employee claim payment for unutilized leaves during
termination of contract?
Article 111 of Saudi labor law, allows employees to claim their
accrued leave balance if he/ she leaves the employment without
utilizing those leaves.
7. Can an employee work for another employer during their annual
leave?
No, a worker shall not work for another employer while on annual
or sick leave provided for in Article 118. Where his employer
establishes that he has done so, he may deprive him of his wage
for the duration of the leave or recover any wages previously paid
to him
8. What happens when an employee takes unauthorized leave?
Employers may terminate the employee’s contract without
compensation in the event the employee takes unauthorized
leave for either: More than 30 non-consecutive days a year or for

3. more than 15 consecutive days within a year. In the first case, a
prior written warning must be delivered to the employee after 20
days of non-consecutive absence and in the second case the
warning must be delivered after 10 days of consecutive absence.
9. Can an employer terminate an employee who is on leave?
No, employers cannot terminate the services of employees who
are on annual leave.
2. Sick Leave policy in the KSA
Sick leave is granted for 120 days per annum (the year begins from the
first date of the sick leave) at the following rate. The sick leave period
can either be continuous or intermittent.
o The first 30 days: entitled for Full Pay (100%)
o The following 60 days: entitled for three quarters of the wage (75%)
o And the following 30 days without pay.
As stated in Article 53, an employee on probation is eligible for Sick
leave after completing 90 days of probation period.
See the following sample calculation simplifying the salary of an
employee taking sick leaves.

4. Frequently asked questions
4. Can an employee who is on probation take a paid sick leave?
No, as per Article 53, a worker is not entitled to any paid sick leave
during the probationary period.
5. Can an employer terminate an employee on sick leave?
According to article 82, an employer cannot terminate an
employee on sick leave as provided in the law. The worker may
request that his sick leave be combined with his annual leave.
6. What is the difference between sick leave unpaid and unpaid
leave?

5. The days taken after the 90 days are regarded as sick leave
unpaid and are different from unpaid leave. The days falling under
this type of leave are included when determining the service
period of an employee. This leave does NOT impact the
calculation of gratuity, outstanding vacation, air ticket payout or
any other payroll accrual due to the employee.
3. Maternity Leave policy in KSA
A female employee working in KSA shall be entitled to maternity leave
as stated below:
 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery
 6 weeks immediately after delivery
Frequently asked questions concerning maternity leave
2. Can an employee take extra leaves after exhaustion of her
maternity leave?
Yes, an employee on maternity leave can combine such with her
outstanding annual leave if she so wishes. This period can be
granted to a maximum period of 180 days if the female employee
so wishes.
3. Is maternity leave a paid leave?
A working woman with a continuous service period of three years
and above is entitled to a fully paid maternity leave, whereas if the
service period is below three years, maternity leave is granted at
half pay.
4. Is the period taken for unpaid maternity leave included while
determining the period of service?

6. Yes, this period taken as unpaid maternity leave is included while
determining the period of service and is counted while calculating
gratuity at the end of service.
5. Is a female employee entitled to any extra breaks post-delivery?
When a female resumes back to work, she shall be entitled to
additional breaks not exceeding one hour a day to nurse her
young baby. These breaks are treated as part of her working
hours and not part of the normal break and can be during the first
year after the delivery .
6. Can an employer terminate a female employee who is on
maternity leave?
An employer may not terminate a female employee who is on
maternity leave. Similarly, an employer cannot terminate her
during illness resulting from pregnancy or delivery.
4. Hajj Leave
Muslim employees are entitled to take Hajj leave. This leave is granted
for a period of not more than fifteen days or less than ten days,
including the Eid Al Adha holidays. This leave should only be granted
once during the entire service period if the employee has not performed
Hajj before. To be eligible for this leave, the worker must have spent at
least two consecutive years of service with the employer.
0. Are employees on Hajj leave paid?
Hajj leave is granted as a paid leave
5. Paternity Leave
A male worker is entitled for three days paid leave after the delivery of
his newborn baby.

7. 6. Marriage leave.
According to Article 113 of Saudi law, Employees who are getting
married are entitled to five days paid leave.
7. Compassionate leave.
In the case of the death of a first-degree or second-degree relative, an
employee is granted five days of paid leave.
8. Examination leave
An employee who is enrolled in an educational institution is eligible for
paid leaves to sit for an examination in unrepeated years. The number
of days granted shall depend on the actual number of days taken to sit
for the examinations.
9. Iddah leave
A Muslim female worker whose husband has died shall be entitled to
four months and 10 days paid leave as the date of death to mourn her
deceased husband. A non-Muslim female worker whose husband has
died shall be entitled to fifteen-day paid leave as the date of death to
mourn her deceased husband.
10. KSA Public Holidays.
These are the public holidays in KSA.
 Eid Al Fitr:
 Arafah Day: Dhu Al Hijjah
 Eid Al Adha; From 10 to 12 of Dhu Al Hijjah (Feast of Sacrifice)
 National Day: 23rd September
*Please note, Islamic holidays are determined according to moon
sighting.

8. The hectic routine of employees makes leaves a significant part of their lives.
They are helpful in promoting good physical and mental health at the
workplace and at the same time also contribute positively towards the work-
life balance of employees. The leave policies will be different for all countries
and it is mandatory to know the policy of the country where you work.
For information on the payroll process in KSA click on this link
Payroll Service in KSA
The process of payroll is a little complicated and time-consuming; hence it is
always recommended to outsource your company’s payroll function.
Outsourcing payroll will ensure the assistance of a team of trained payroll
professionals and it frees up the time of the organization, helping them focus
on other projects that add value to their business.
One should be extra vigilant while selecting their payroll provider, as payroll
data is highly sensitive, and one should opt for a provider that can ensure high
levels of data security.
As a leading payroll outsourcing company, HLB HAMT can help solve your
payroll complexities through customized strategies. We take care of our
clients’ entire payroll cycle that includes preparation of payroll reports,
processing salary payment with WPS compliance, accrual management
including Gratuity, pension funds, an online portal for accessing payslips, and
many more. Our leadership team spends the necessary hours in every
project, ensuring our clients get refined consulting services to take your
business forward.
Disclaimer:
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information,
HLB HAMT will not accept any liability arising out of errors or omissions.

9. Please note that this blog is not all-inclusive. Our guidance is designed only to
give general information on the issues/topics covered. It is subjected to
change and not intended to be a comprehensive summary of all laws which
may be applicable to your situation, treat exhaustively the subjects covered,
provide legal advice, or render a legal opinion.
A Guide on Statutory leaves in the
Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Level 18, City Tower-2,
Sheikh Zayed Road
PO Box 32665
Dubai – United Arab Emirates. Tel: +971 4 327 7775
E-mail: dubai@hlbhamt.com
www.hlbhamt.com