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The Gulf Expat

Can expats claim SANED in Saudi Arabia?

No. SANED applies to Saudi workers, and a claimant must be a Saudi national (SANED Law, Arts. 3 and 8).

Checked 21 October 2026

So if you are an expat, there is no unemployment pay to claim in Saudi Arabia. Your end of service award is what carries you to your next job.

Get your datesEvery deadline as a date, from your last working day.

What to do now

  1. Expats: work out your award and your final pay date in the leaving plan.
  2. Saudi nationals: register within 90 days of your last day. GOSI has the current online steps.
See an example plan
Example only: an expat whose employer ended the job, with a last working day of 7 Nov 2026. Tap it to build your own.

What to ask HR

  1. For Saudi nationals: have my SANED contributions been paid every month?
  2. When will my end of service award be paid?
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Also happening to you?

What expats still get

Your end of service award is separate, and SANED rules do not touch it. It is half a month's wage a year for 5 years, then a month a year (Art. 84).

Your employer must pay it within one week, or two weeks if you resigned (Art. 88).

If you are leaving for good, your employer issues a final exit visa. Use it within two months of the day it is issued, or fines apply (Absher).

For Saudi nationals: who qualifies

  • You are under 60.
  • You did not leave the job by your own choice.
  • You were not dismissed for a reason that is your own fault.
  • A first claim needs 12 months of contributions in the 36 months before it.
  • You register within 90 days of leaving work.

You also need to be able to work, register as a job seeker and keep looking.

How much it pays

For the first 3 months, it pays 60% of your average wage over the last 24 months (Art. 11). The cap is SAR 9,000 a month.

After that, 50%, up to SAR 7,500 a month. It is paid for up to 12 months.

If your employer did not pay the contributions, your right to the payment still stands (Art. 18). Payment stops if you leave Saudi Arabia.

Contributions are 0.75% of the wage from the worker and 0.75% from the employer.

Why this matters when you plan

Without unemployment pay, your final settlement has to cover the time until your next job or your move home. Check that it arrives in full and on time.

If it is late, file for friendly settlement through HRSD's Wedi service. You have 12 months from the end of the job (Art. 234).

Keep your payslips. They show the wage your award should use.