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Probation Period in Saudi Arabia
Probation is the trial period at the start of your employment — and it has sharp edges that cost workers money. The 2025 amendments extended the maximum probation period to 180 days, it must be agreed in writing, and if your employment ends during probation you get no end-of-service benefits. This guide covers the cap, the writing requirement, and what does and doesn’t count toward the period.
The 180-day maximum cap
VERIFIED 2026-10-09: amended Article 53 = 180-day outright ceiling, no separate extension agreement needed. Sources: Dentons amendment table, Mondaq, AHYSP, Etqan. Old rule: 90 days, extendable to 180 by written agreement.
The 2025 amendments extended the maximum probation period to 180 days outright — previously the cap was 90 days, extendable to 180 only by a separate written agreement. The key points:
- 180 days is the ceiling. No probation agreement can legally exceed it, no matter what the contract says — and no separate extension agreement is needed to reach it.
- Probation can be shorter — 90 days, for example — if that is what was agreed in writing.
- After the agreed probation ends, your employment continues under the normal rules of the Labor Law, and your service time counts toward EOSB and other entitlements.
It must be in writing
A probation period is only valid if it is agreed in writing — in your employment contract or a signed probation agreement. This matters more than most workers realize:
- If nothing is written, there is no probation period in the eyes of the law, and the employer cannot claim you are “still on probation” to withhold rights.
- The written agreement should state the length of the probation period. Vague references are a red flag — ask for the exact dates.
- Keep a signed copy yourself. If the employer holds the only copy, get a duplicate before you need it.
No EOSB if service ends during probation
This is the expensive part: if your employment ends during the probation period, you are not entitled to end-of-service benefits. Multiple sources confirm that termination during probation carries no gratuity. Whether probation months count toward your total service after you complete probation and keep working is less clearly documented — confirm with HRSD how your service time will be counted.
Example: you work 5 months on a 180-day probation and the employer lets you go. Despite 5 months of work, no gratuity is payable — whereas the same 5 months worked after probation would earn a prorated Article 84 amount. This is why the written start and end dates of your probation matter.
What counts — and doesn’t count — toward probation
The probation clock runs from the start date in your written agreement, but not every day on the calendar necessarily advances it:
| Situation | How it is generally treated |
|---|---|
| Days actually worked | Count toward probation. |
| Extended leave or absence | Generally do not count as probation service the same way — long absences can push the legal end of probation later. |
| Probation in a renewed contract for the same job | Check the agreement — repeated probation for the same role is restricted under the rules. |
FACT-CHECK: the treatment of leave/absence during probation and restrictions on repeated probation need verification against the current Labor Law text — do not state precise mechanics as fact.
Ending employment during probation
Either side can end the relationship during probation:
- If the employer ends it: you are still owed unpaid salary for every day worked (monthly wage ÷ 30 per day) — just not EOSB.
- If you resign during probation: the same applies — no EOSB, but your worked days must be paid. The Article 79 Bis resignation process still applies to how you submit it.
- After probation ends: normal termination and resignation rules apply, and your full service time (post-probation) counts toward EOSB.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a probation period be in Saudi Arabia?
The 2025 amendments extended the maximum probation period to 180 days. Probation must be agreed in writing — a verbal probation arrangement does not count — and no probation period can exceed 180 days.
Does probation have to be in writing in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The probation period must be agreed in writing between the employer and the employee. If it is not written into the contract or a signed agreement, the employer cannot claim you are on probation.
Do I get end-of-service benefits if I am terminated during probation?
No. If your employment ends during the probation period, you are not entitled to end-of-service benefits. Whether probation months count toward your total service after you complete probation is less clearly documented — confirm with HRSD.
Can my employer extend my probation beyond what we agreed?
Any extension must stay within the 180-day legal maximum, and check your contract: extensions should be documented in writing like the original probation agreement. An employer cannot stretch probation indefinitely.
Can I resign during my probation period in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, either side can end the employment relationship during probation. Since your service ends during probation, no EOSB is payable, and you should still collect any unpaid salary for days worked.
What counts toward the probation period?
The probation period runs from the start of your employment as set out in the written agreement. Time on leave or absence generally does not count as probation service in the same way as time actually worked, so extended absences can shift when your probation legally ends — verify the position against the current Labor Law text and HRSD guidance.