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The Gulf Expat

Do I get end of service if I resign before 2 years in Saudi Arabia?

No. If you resign with under 2 years of service, no end of service award is due (Art. 85). From 2 years, you get one third.

Checked 21 October 2026

Is it worth waiting to resign?

What to do now

  1. Count your service from your exact start date to the day the contract will end. Your employer may accept your resignation sooner than you plan.
  2. If you are close to 2 years, see what waiting would change before you resign.
  3. Build your leaving plan to get your final pay date.
See an example plan
Example only: an expat who resigned, with a last working day of 7 Nov 2026. Tap it to build your own.

What to ask HR

  1. What start date do you hold for me?
  2. Will my exit be recorded as a resignation or as an agreed end?
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The resignation shares

  • Under 2 years: nothing.
  • 2 to 5 years: one third.
  • Over 5 and under 10 years: two thirds.
  • 10 years or more: the full award.

Exactly 5 years still pays one third. Two thirds needs more than 5 years.

Years are counted from the anniversaries of your start date, so check the exact date your employer holds.

When you get the full award anyway

  • A woman who resigns within 6 months of marrying.
  • A woman who resigns within 3 months of giving birth.
  • Anyone who leaves because of force majeure beyond their control (Art. 87).

Leaving without notice under Article 81 keeps all your rights. Cases include your employer failing its main duties, or an assault. Another is being made to look like the one who ended it.

If your employer ends it instead

If your employer ends the contract, the award is due for any length of service, worked out pro rata.

The exception is a contract that ends during probation, which pays no award (Art. 54). Probation can last up to 180 days. A dismissal for an Article 80 reason also pays no award.

Agreed exits

If you and your employer agree to part, get the amount in writing. If the exit is recorded as your resignation, the Article 85 share can be applied.

Your notice

Give 30 days' written notice on an open-ended contract (Art. 75). Your resignation counts as accepted if there is no answer within 30 days.

You can withdraw it within 7 days, as long as your employer has not accepted it (Art. 79 bis).

When you resign, your final pay is due within two weeks of the contract ending (Art. 88). That includes wages and unused leave.

If you are a few weeks short of 2 years, waiting can be worth a third of your award. Talk to HR before you hand in a letter.