Under the Saudi Labor Law you are entitled to at least 21 days of paid annual leave a year, rising to at least 30 days after five continuous years with the same employer. The wage for the leave is paid in advance, you cannot swap leave for cash while employed, and any unused days are paid out when your contract ends.
This guide covers each rule with its article number. To value your leave in riyals, use the Saudi leave salary calculator.
21 days, rising to 30 after five continuous years
Article 109(1) sets the minimum:
| Continuous service with the employer | Minimum annual leave |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 years | 21 days |
| 5 years or more | 30 days |
Three things to note:
- These are minimums. Many contracts give 30 days from the start, and that is lawful.
- The increase depends on continuous service with the same employer. Moving to a new employer starts the count again.
- The leave is paid: you receive your wage for the leave days as if you were working.
The text is in the consolidated Labor Law on the Bureau of Experts site.
Leave pay is paid in advance
Article 109 also says the wage for annual leave is paid in advance. In practice, your employer should pay the leave salary before you go, rather than waiting for the next payroll after you return.
If your leave falls in the middle of a pay cycle, your payslip may show it as a “leave salary” or “vacation pay” line. That is the same money, paid early.
Calendar days or working days? What the law says vs practice
This is the most common question, and online answers contradict each other.
- The law says only “days” (يوماً). It does not say “working days”.
- Practice: some law firms, including Clyde & Co, report that the ministry has traditionally counted annual leave in working days, so that weekends inside the leave are not deducted.
- Official ruling: we have not found a published HRSD ruling that settles it.
Our calculator treats the entitlement as days and values each day at monthly wage ÷ 30. If your employer counts working days, your contract or the HR policy should say so; ask for it in writing.
The “leave after 11 months” claim
Many Arabic websites say you can take annual leave only after 11 months, or 12 months. That rule is not in Articles 109–111, which grant leave “for each year” of service. It may come from the executive regulations or company policy, which we could not verify. Treat it as an employer practice to check, not a rule of law.
Postponing leave: the 90-day and next-year limits
Article 109(2) says leave should be taken in the year it is due. The employer sets the dates according to work needs, and must tell you at least 30 days in advance.
Article 110 then allows postponement:
- You can carry leave, or part of it, into the next year with your employer’s agreement.
- Your employer can postpone your leave by up to 90 days if work requires it.
- Postponing for longer needs your written consent, and the leave cannot go beyond the end of the following year.
Keep any written agreement to carry leave forward. It matters if there is a dispute about your balance when you leave.
No cash instead of leave while you are employed
Article 109(2) is direct: you may not waive your annual leave or receive money in place of it during your employment. The purpose is rest, so an employer cannot buy out your leave year after year, even if you agree.
The only time leave turns into cash is at the end of the contract.
Unused leave when you leave (Article 111)
When your contract ends, Article 111 entitles you to be paid for:
- every leave day you earned but did not take, and
- part of a year, in proportion to the time you worked in it.
This applies however the contract ends, including resignation. It is paid on top of your end-of-service award, as part of your final settlement. Article 88 requires the settlement within one week if the employer ended the contract, or two weeks if you did.
Example
You earn SAR 9,000 a month and have 12 unused days when you leave.
| Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Day’s wage | 9,000 ÷ 30 | SAR 300 |
| 12 unused days | 12 × 300 | SAR 3,600 |
| Annual leave pay, 2 years’ service (21 days) | 21 × 300 | SAR 6,300 |
| Annual leave pay, 6 years’ service (30 days) | 30 × 300 | SAR 9,000 |
These are the figures our calculator gives for the same inputs.
Which wage is used for leave pay?
The Labor Law defines “wage” as the actual wage: basic pay plus allowances and other regular payments. Because leave is “paid” leave, most practitioners apply that same actual wage to leave pay and unused-leave payouts. We have not found an HRSD ruling that states this in terms, and some contracts specify a different basis. Check your contract; if it is silent, the actual wage is the reading most consistent with the law’s definition.
This matters: on a SAR 6,000 basic plus SAR 3,000 of allowances, 12 unused days are worth SAR 2,400 on basic pay but SAR 3,600 on actual wage. Our post on basic vs total salary compares the rule across the Gulf.
Other paid leave changed in 2025
Annual leave is separate from the occasion leave in Article 113, which the 2025 amendments updated: 5 days for marriage or the death of a spouse, parent or child; a new 3 days for the death of a brother or sister; and 3 days of paternity leave, to be taken within 7 days of the birth. These days do not come out of your annual leave. More on the wider law is in our Saudi labour law guide.
Before you take leave: a short checklist
- Confirm your entitlement for the current year: 21 or 30 days, or more if your contract says so.
- Get the dates approved in writing, and note whether your employer counts calendar or working days.
- Ask when the leave salary will be paid. The law says in advance.
- Record any carried-over days and the written agreement that allowed it, so your balance is clear later.
- If you are leaving soon, compare taking the leave with having it paid out under Article 111; both are your right, but timing affects your last working day and therefore your service.
Calculate your leave salary
Enter your monthly wage, years of service and unused days in the Saudi leave salary calculator. It shows your yearly entitlement, what each day is worth, and what your balance pays when you leave. Leaving your job? Add your end-of-service award with the Saudi gratuity calculator and run through the final settlement checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do you get in Saudi Arabia?
At least 21 days a year, rising to at least 30 days once you have completed five continuous years with the same employer (Article 109). Your contract can give more, never less.
Is annual leave paid in advance in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Article 109 says the leave is paid and the wage for it is paid in advance, before the leave starts.
Can I get cash instead of taking my annual leave?
Not while you are employed. Article 109 forbids waiving leave or exchanging it for money during service. Unused leave is paid in cash only when the contract ends (Article 111).
Is unused annual leave paid when I resign in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Article 111 entitles a worker who leaves to pay for the leave days not taken, and for part of a year in proportion to the time worked, whether the contract ends by resignation or otherwise.
Can my employer postpone my annual leave?
Yes, by up to 90 days if work requires it. Postponing beyond that needs your written consent, and the leave cannot be pushed past the end of the following year (Article 110).
Are Saudi leave days calendar days or working days?
The law simply says days. Some practitioners report that the ministry has traditionally counted working days; we have not found an official ruling, so check your contract and your employer's policy.