Saudi Notice Period Rules 2026: 30 Days vs 60 Days

Updated 6 October 2026. Saudi Arabia changed the wording of Article 75 of the Labor Law, so older online guides can now be misleading. The current rule distinguishes between who initiates termination when an indefinite-term employee is paid monthly.

What is the notice period in Saudi Arabia in 2026?

Under the current Article 75 published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, if an indefinite-term contract is paid monthly:

• If the employee initiates termination for a legitimate reason, the employee must provide written notice at least 30 days before the termination date.
• If the employer initiates termination for a legitimate reason, the employer must provide written notice at least 60 days before the termination date.

If the indefinite-term worker is not paid monthly, the party initiating termination must generally provide at least 30 days written notice.

Why do some websites still say 60 days for everyone paid monthly?

That was the older wording. HRSD’s amendment materials show that Article 75 was changed so that a monthly-paid employee initiating termination now has a 30-day minimum, while an employer initiating termination retains a 60-day minimum. This is exactly why employment guidance should be checked against the current official text rather than old blog posts.

What if the notice period is not observed?

Article 76 states that if the party terminating an indefinite-term contract does not observe the required notice period, that party must pay the other party an amount equal to the worker’s wage for the notice period, unless the parties agree otherwise.

Does the employee get time to look for another job?

Where the employer gives notice, Article 78 provides that the worker is entitled during the notice period to be absent for one full day per week or eight hours during the week to search for another job, while remaining entitled to pay for that time. The worker must follow the notice requirements in the law.

Is resignation the same as termination notice?

Not always. The Labor Law now also contains specific resignation provisions, including how a resignation request is accepted, when an employer may postpone acceptance, and when the employee may withdraw it. Do not assume that submitting a resignation message automatically ends the contract on that date.

Official Saudi source

Read Articles 75 to 79 on the HRSD Labor Relations page. HRSD also publishes the Labor Law amendment comparison.

Related Saudi employment guides

See Saudi end-of-service benefits and Saudi annual leave entitlement.