How many days of annual leave do you get?
Article 109 of the Saudi Labor Law gives a worker prepaid annual leave of:
| Service with the same employer | Annual leave |
|---|---|
| Under 5 years in a row | At least 21 days a year |
| 5 years in a row or more | At least 30 days a year |
The contract can give more, never less. The law says only "days" and does not say working days or calendar days, so check how your contract counts them.
What is leave salary paid on?
Leave is paid on the actual wage. The Labor Law defines "wage" as the actual wage, meaning the basic wage plus allowances such as housing and transport (Article 2), and it counts a month as 30 days.
Day's leave salary = actual monthly wage ÷ 30.
| Actual wage | Day's wage | 21 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAR 3,000 | SAR 100 | SAR 2,100 | SAR 3,000 |
| SAR 5,000 | SAR 166.67 | SAR 3,500 | SAR 5,000 |
| SAR 9,000 | SAR 300 | SAR 6,300 | SAR 9,000 |
Leave salary is due before the leave starts, because Article 109 calls it prepaid leave.
Can you take cash instead of leave?
Not while you are employed. Article 109 says a worker may not give up the leave or take money for it during the service. The employer sets the leave dates according to the needs of the work and must tell you at least 30 days before.
Can leave be carried over?
Article 110 sets the limits:
- With the employer's approval, you can move leave to the next year.
- The employer may postpone your leave by up to 90 days after the year it falls due.
- A longer postponement needs your written consent, and even then not past the end of the year after the one the leave was due.
Unused leave does not simply disappear in the law. When the job ends, Article 111 pays for every unused day, so keep a record of your balance.
What happens to unused leave when you leave?
Article 111 pays the wage for the unused days, and leave for the part of the year you worked, in proportion. It does not matter who ends the contract: you get it after resigning too.
Example: actual wage SAR 9,000 (basic 6,000, housing 2,250, transport 750). Joined 1 March 2024, last day 30 June 2026, 18 days left from earlier years, none taken since 1 March 2026.
- This service year: 1 March to 30 June 2026 is 122 days, so 21 × 122 ÷ 365 = 7.02 days.
- Balance: 18 + 7.02 = 25.02 days.
- Day's wage: 9,000 ÷ 30 = SAR 300.
- Leave salary: 300 × (18 + 21 × 122 ÷ 365) = SAR 7,505.75.
On the basic wage alone it would be 200 × (18 + 21 × 122 ÷ 365) = SAR 5,003.84, about SAR 2,500 less. That is why the wage used matters.
First year: 4 months into the first year at 21 days a year is 21 × 4 ÷ 12 = 7 days. On SAR 9,000 that is 7 × 300 = SAR 2,100.
Other leave changed in 2025
The amendments in force on 19 February 2025 changed some other paid leave:
| Leave | Days | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | 5 days | Art. 113 |
| Death of a spouse or close relative | 5 days | Art. 113 |
| Death of a brother or sister | 3 days (new) | Art. 113 |
| Birth of a child (father) | 3 days, within 7 days of the birth | Art. 113 |
| Maternity | 12 weeks (was 10) | Art. 151 |
A public holiday that falls during your annual leave makes the leave longer by that many days.
Work out your own leave salary →
For everything you get when you leave, use the Saudi final settlement calculator.
This is an estimate under the published law, not legal advice. Your employer, HRSD or a labour court gives the final figure.
Questions people ask about annual leave in Saudi Arabia
How many days of annual leave do I get in Saudi Arabia? At least 21 days a year, and 30 days after 5 years in a row with the same employer (Article 109).
Is leave salary paid on basic or total salary? On the actual wage, basic plus allowances (Article 2).
Is unused leave paid if I resign in Saudi Arabia? Yes. Article 111 pays unused days and the part year whoever ends the contract.
Can I sell my leave for cash? Not while you are employed (Article 109).
Is annual leave 21 working days or calendar days? The law says only days. Check your contract.
Sources
- Saudi Labor Law, English text on HRSD (Articles 2, 109, 110, 111)
- HRSD: amendments to the Labor Law, before and after (2025) (Articles 113 and 151)
- HRSD knowledge centre: annual leave
- Clyde & Co: leave under the 2025 amendments
This guide is general information, checked in November 2026. Rules can change, so confirm with HRSD.