Running leave on paper forms and WhatsApp messages usually ends with inaccurate balances, late approvals and disputes at end of service over days owed. A correct leave system starts from the leave types the Saudi Labor Law sets out, then layers your company policy on top.
Leave types under the Saudi Labor Law
The table summarises the main leave types as published in the Labor Law on the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development website and the Ministry's women employment page. It is an educational summary; the reference is the current legal text.
| Leave | Length and pay | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | Not less than 21 days, paid in advance, rising to not less than 30 days after five consecutive years with the employer | 109 |
| Marriage | Five days, full pay | 113 |
| Death of a spouse, ascendant or descendant | Five days, full pay | 113 |
| Birth of a child | Three days, full pay | 113 |
| Hajj | Not less than 10 and not more than 15 days including Eid Al-Adha, once during service for a worker who has not performed Hajj, after at least two consecutive years of service | 114 |
| Exams | Full pay for actual exam days if the employer approved the enrolment; unpaid for a repeated year | 115 |
| Sick | First 30 days at full pay, next 60 days at three quarters, following 30 days unpaid, within a single year, continuous or intermittent; the year starts from the first sick leave | 117 |
| Maternity | Twelve weeks at full pay, six of them mandatory after delivery, with an optional one-month unpaid extension | 151 |
| Iddah | For a Muslim widow, not less than four months and ten days at full pay; for a non-Muslim widow, fifteen days at full pay | 160 |
| Unpaid | By agreement; the contract is deemed suspended for any period beyond 20 days unless agreed otherwise | 116 |
Note: several Labor Law articles have been amended in recent years, including maternity leave, which is now twelve weeks. Before configuring any leave type, check the current text on the Ministry website. For special leave the employer may request supporting documents.
Annual leave rules the system must apply
- Leave is taken in the year it is due; the worker may not waive it or take cash in lieu during service.
- The employer may schedule leave to suit work needs, but must notify the worker at least 30 days in advance.
- The move from 21 to 30 days after five consecutive years should happen in the system automatically, not by hand.
How an electronic leave system works
- The employee submits a request from self-service or mobile and sees the balance before sending.
- The request goes to the line manager, then to HR if policy requires.
- The balance is deducted on approval and the day shows in attendance as leave, not absence.
- Leave with a pay effect, such as sick leave at three quarters or unpaid leave, flows into payroll.
- Every request and approval is kept for reference in any dispute or at end-of-service settlement.
Company policy above the minimum
The law sets the floor; a company may grant more. Examples a good system handles without code:
- Higher annual entitlement for certain groups, such as senior management.
- Rules for carrying part of the balance into the next year by mutual agreement.
- Different approval paths by branch or leave length.
- A team leave calendar that prevents too many people being off at once.
Reports management needs
- Accrued balances: total unused days, a liability finance needs to know.
- Peak periods: Eid and school holidays, for advance planning.
- Sick leave: tracking each employee's use of the three pay bands within the year.
Where to manage leave
If you run Odoo, its Time Off app connects to attendance and payroll in the same system; see Odoo for HR and Odoo services. If your policies are not covered by ready tools, see custom systems. Maham HR, a Maham Pro product under development, includes leave in its scope, and a demo is available on request.
FAQ
Is sick leave counted by calendar year?
Under Article 117, the single year starts from the date of the first sick leave, not from the start of the Gregorian or Hijri year. The system should calculate it that way.
Can annual leave be paid out instead of taken?
Article 109 does not allow the worker to waive leave or take cash in lieu during service. Days owed when employment ends are handled under the law's provisions.
Who checks documents for special leave?
The employer may request supporting documents. Give the request form a field to attach them.
Next step
To review your leave policy and how to configure it electronically, book a free 30-minute introductory session. To connect leave with pay, read payroll and GOSI.