Saudi Working Hours and Overtime 2026: 8 Hours, 48 Hours and Ramadan Rules

Updated 6 October 2026. Saudi Labor Law sets standard limits for working hours and specific rules for overtime. Employers and employees should distinguish between normal hours, Ramadan hours, rest periods and legally recognised overtime.

What are the normal working hours in Saudi Arabia?

Article 98 of the Saudi Labor Law states that a worker should not be employed for more than 8 actual working hours per day when the daily standard is used, or more than 48 hours per week when the weekly standard is used.

What are the working hours during Ramadan?

For Muslim workers, actual working hours during Ramadan are reduced so that they do not exceed 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week.

Are rest breaks included in working hours?

The law requires work and rest periods to be organised so that an employee does not work more than five consecutive hours without a break for rest, prayer and food of at least 30 minutes at a time. Those break periods are generally not counted as actual working hours, and the worker should not remain at the workplace for more than the statutory maximum period described in the law.

How is overtime treated?

Article 107 states that the employer must pay overtime compensation equal to the hourly wage plus 50% of the employee’s basic wage for the relevant overtime hours. With the employee’s consent, paid compensatory leave may be granted instead of the overtime wages, subject to the implementing rules.

Where the establishment follows a weekly working-hours standard, hours exceeding that adopted weekly standard are overtime. Working hours performed during holidays and official vacations are also treated as overtime under Article 107.

Can some jobs have different working-hour limits?

Yes. Article 99 allows some categories of workers or industries to have different daily limits, and Article 100 provides rules for certain shift-work arrangements with Ministry approval. Article 108 also identifies categories to which some standard working-hour provisions do not apply in the normal way. That is why a general 8-hour rule should not be used blindly for every role.

Official Saudi source

Read the current Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development text on working conditions and working hours, especially Articles 98 to 108.

Related Saudi employment guides

See our guides to annual leave, notice periods and end-of-service benefits.