How much notice do I give when I resign in Saudi Arabia?
30 days in writing on an open-ended contract, whether you are paid monthly or not (Art. 75). If your employer does not reply within 30 days, the resignation counts as accepted (Art. 79 bis).
Checked 21 October 2026
Get your datesEvery deadline as a date, from your last working day.
What to do now
- Fill in the Saudi resignation letter and hand it in. Keep a dated copy.
- Note the date 7 days on (your last chance to withdraw) and 30 days on (accepted if no reply).
- Build your leaving plan for your final pay date.
See an example plan
What to ask HR
- How do you want the resignation request submitted?
- Will you confirm in writing the date you received it?
The rule
- Open-ended contract, paid monthly: you give at least 30 days. Your employer gives you at least 60 (Art. 75(1)).
- Open-ended contract, not paid monthly: at least 30 days either way (Art. 75(2)).
Older guides say 60 days for monthly-paid workers. That was the old Article 75. The worker's period is now 30 days.
How the request works
Your resignation is a written request, with no conditions attached (Art. 2).
Leave any future resignation date out of it: Article 79 bis bars a deferred date in the request.
Your contract ends in one of three ways (Art. 79 bis):
- Your employer accepts the request.
- 30 days pass with no reply.
- A deferral your employer set runs out.
If your employer defers it
Your employer can put acceptance off for up to 60 days if the work needs it. It must do so before the 30 days are up, with a written reason to you.
Your contract stays in force during that time. You keep working and keep all your rights (Art. 79 bis).
Changing your mind
You can withdraw the request within 7 days of handing it in. After your employer accepts it, you cannot (Art. 79 bis).
If you skip the notice
On an open-ended contract, whoever skips the notice pays the other side the wage for that period. The two sides can agree a bigger sum (Art. 76).
Article 81 lists cases where you may leave without notice and keep your rights. They include unmet essential obligations, fraud when you were hired, an assault, insults and serious danger.
Fixed-term contracts and probation
On a fixed-term contract, check your contract, and ask HRSD what notice applies before you resign.
During probation the contract can be ended by either side (Art. 53). Check your contract for any notice it asks for.
After your last day
When you end the contract, your employer has two weeks to settle everything you are owed (Art. 88).
Not paid? HRSD's friendly settlement service is free. The labour court stops hearing claims 12 months after the job ends (Art. 234).