How much notice do I give in Saudi Arabia?

On an open-ended contract, 30 days in writing, whether or not you are paid monthly (Art. 75).

Can I take my resignation back?

Yes, within 7 days of handing it in, unless your employer has already accepted it (Art. 79 bis).

What if my employer does not answer my resignation?

After 30 days with no reply, it counts as accepted (Art. 79 bis).

What share do I keep if I resign after exactly 5 years?

One third. Two thirds needs more than 5 years of service (Art. 85).

When is my final pay due after I resign?

Within two weeks of the end of the contract (Art. 88).

Switching jobs in Saudi Arabia: how to resign and what you keep

On an open-ended contract, give 30 days' notice in writing (Art. 75).
If your employer does not reply within 30 days, your resignation counts as accepted (Art. 79 bis).
Under Article 85, a resignation keeps nothing under 2 years, one third up to 5, two thirds under 10 and all of it from 10.
Ask HRSD how your exit will be recorded.
Your employer has two weeks to pay (Art. 88).

Is it worth waiting to resign?Whether a later last day keeps more of your end of service pay, and the day to hand in your notice.

Checked 21 October 2026

On this page

Fill in your resignation letter with the notice rule for Saudi Arabia already in it.

How to resign

Put your resignation in writing, with no conditions attached (Art. 2).

Do not name a later resignation date in the request. The law does not allow one (Art. 79 bis).

It ends when your employer accepts it, or after 30 days with no reply.
Within those 30 days, your employer can put acceptance off for up to 60 days. It must give you a written reason.
You can withdraw it within 7 days of handing it in, unless your employer has already accepted it.
Your contract stays in force while the request is open, and you keep all your rights.

Ask HR how they want the request submitted and logged, and get a dated copy back.

Fill in a Saudi resignation letter with your own names and dates.

Leaving without notice

On an open-ended contract, whoever skips the notice pays the other side the wage for it (Art. 76).

Article 81 lets you leave without notice and keep your rights in listed cases. They include unmet essential obligations, fraud when you were hired, an assault and serious danger.

Next: Resignation letter for Saudi Arabia

How much notice you give

Open-ended contract, paid monthly: you give 30 days, your employer gives 60 (Art. 75(1)).
Open-ended contract, not paid monthly: 30 days either way (Art. 75(2)).
Fixed-term contract: check your contract, and ask HRSD what notice applies before you resign.
Probation: the contract can be ended by either side (Art. 53). Check your contract for any notice it asks for.

Older guides give 60 days for monthly-paid workers. That rule was replaced: the worker now gives 30 days (Art. 75).

Your end of service award after you resign

The full award is half a month's wage for each of your first 5 years, then a month a year (Art. 84). Resigning keeps a share of it (Art. 85):

Under 2 years: nothing.
2 to 5 years: one third. Exactly 5 years is still one third.
Over 5 and under 10 years: two thirds.
10 years or more: all of it.

Some resignations keep the full award (Art. 87). One is leaving because of force majeure. Another is a woman resigning within 6 months of marrying, or 3 months of giving birth.

The texts do not settle whether these shares apply when you end an open-ended contract with Article 75 notice. Before you resign, ask HRSD how your exit will be recorded and which share applies to you.

Count your service from your exact start date. A few weeks can move you into the next share.

Your service counts to the day the contract ends. That can come sooner than you plan, for example if your employer accepts your resignation early. If you are close to a threshold, wait until you are past it before you hand in your letter.

Article 85. Exactly 5 years still keeps one third.

Next: Is it worth waiting to resign?

Resigning during probation

The longest probation allowed is 180 days in total (Art. 53). The Eid holidays, National Day, Founding Day and sick leave do not count towards it (HRSD guide).

Either side may end the contract during probation (Art. 53). Neither side owes compensation, and no end of service award is due (Art. 54).

Your final pay

When you end the contract, your employer has two weeks to settle everything you are owed (Art. 88).

Check each line before you sign a final clearance. That includes your award share and your last wages.

Not paid? File for friendly settlement through HRSD's Wedi service. It is free. The labour court stops hearing claims 12 months after the job ends (Art. 234).

Next: Was my final pay late?

Moving to a new employer

Agree the move with your new employer before anything is filed. Ask them and HRSD how the transfer works in your case, and in what order.

If you are leaving Saudi Arabia instead, your employer issues a final exit visa. Use it within two months of the day it is issued (Absher).

SANED covers Saudi nationals only, and does not pay after a resignation (SANED Law, Arts. 3 and 8).

Next: Leaving Saudi Arabia instead? How to move your money home

Questions

How much notice do I give in Saudi Arabia?: On an open-ended contract, 30 days in writing, whether or not you are paid monthly (Art. 75).
Can I take my resignation back?: Yes, within 7 days of handing it in, unless your employer has already accepted it (Art. 79 bis).
What if my employer does not answer my resignation?: After 30 days with no reply, it counts as accepted (Art. 79 bis).
What share do I keep if I resign after exactly 5 years?: One third. Two thirds needs more than 5 years of service (Art. 85).
When is my final pay due after I resign?: Within two weeks of the end of the contract (Art. 88).