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The Gulf Expat

How long is probation in Saudi Arabia?

Up to 180 days in total (Art. 53). A contract ended within probation pays no end of service award (Art. 54).

Checked 21 October 2026

The 180 days is the most the law allows in all cases. Your contract sets your own period, so read it before you sign.

Get your datesFor when this job ends: every deadline as a date.

What to do now

  1. Find the probation length in your offer and check it is no more than 180 days.
  2. Count forward from your start date, adding any of the holidays above and any sick leave.
  3. Keep a copy of your signed contract, with its probation clause.
  4. When a job ends, build your leaving plan for the dates that follow.

What to ask HR

  1. On what date does my probation end?
  2. Does my contract set any notice for ending probation?
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Days that do not count

Some days are left out of the probation count, so it can end later than the calendar suggests (HRSD):

  • The Eid al-Fitr holiday.
  • The Eid al-Adha holiday.
  • The National Day holiday.
  • The Founding Day holiday.
  • Sick leave.

Who can end it

Either side can end the contract during probation (Art. 53). Probation is also a case where your employer can end the contract with no award or notice (Art. 80).

Check your contract for any notice it asks for during probation.

What you get if it ends in probation

Neither side owes the other compensation, and you are not entitled to an end of service award (Art. 54).

Your employer must still settle what it owes you within one week of the contract ending. If you ended it, the limit is two weeks (Art. 88).

After probation

If the job goes on past probation, the award is worked out on your last wage. It is half a month's wage for each of the first 5 years, then a month a year (Art. 84).

On an open-ended contract with a monthly wage, you owe at least 30 days' notice. Your employer owes at least 60 days (Art. 75).

If your employer ends the contract without a valid reason, it owes compensation of at least 2 months' wage (Art. 77).

On an open-ended contract, that is 15 days' wage for each year. On a fixed-term one, it is your wage for the rest of the term.

Before you sign

  • Check the probation length in days, and that it is 180 or fewer.
  • Check whether the contract is fixed-term or open-ended.
  • Check how your wage is split into basic pay and allowances.