Saudi Arabia End of Service Benefits & Expat Money Rights 2026
Millions of expatriates work in Saudi Arabia, and almost all of them are owed money when their job ends — end-of-service benefits (mukafat nihayat al-khidma), unused leave, notice-period pay, and sometimes overtime. Most workers either do not know the formula or accept whatever HR hands them. This page is the starting point for everything Saudi on this site: the formula, the resignation rules, the calculators, the claim route, and the latest Saudi labour news — every number verified against the Saudi Labor Law and official portals.
The one-minute version
Under Article 84 of the Saudi Labor Law, you earn half a month’s wage for each of your first five years of service, and one full month’s wage for each year after that. The base is your last wage: basic salary plus fixed allowances such as housing and transport. Variable commissions and one-off bonuses are excluded, partial years are prorated, and there is no maximum cap.
| Service period | What you earn |
|---|---|
| Each of the first 5 years | Half a month’s wage per year (15 days) |
| Each year after the 5th | One full month’s wage per year (30 days) |
Resignation changes the payout. Under Article 85, the tiers are:
| Service at resignation | You receive |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | Nothing (0%) |
| 2 to under 5 years | One-third of the total |
| 5 to under 10 years | Two-thirds of the total |
| 10 years or more | Full amount (100%) |
Last wage SAR 10,000, service 8 years. First 5 years: 15 days x SAR 333.33 x 5 = SAR 25,000. Next 3 years: 30 days x SAR 333.33 x 3 = SAR 30,000. Full award = SAR 55,000. Resigned with 8 years, the two-thirds tier applies: SAR 36,666.67. Had this worker been terminated instead of resigning, the full SAR 55,000 would apply.
Resigning in Saudi Arabia — Article 79 Bis (2025 amendment)
The 2025 amendments moved resignation onto the Qiwa portal and added clear timelines: submit through Qiwa so there is a timestamped record; if your employer does not respond within 30 days, the resignation is automatically accepted; you can withdraw within 7 days of submitting; and the employer may delay the effective date by up to 60 days, but only with written justification. Keep everything in writing and inside the portal — verbal promises about acceptance dates are worth nothing in a dispute.
“Article 79 Bis” numbering follows press and analyst coverage; the official gazette text has not been directly read. The mechanics above are corroborated by law-firm and statutory sources.
Resignation does not erase your gratuity, but Article 85 reduces it per the tiers above. Two exceptions pay the full award despite resignation: resigning because the employer failed its obligations (for example non-payment of wages), and the statutory exceptions under Article 87, including a female worker resigning within 6 months of marriage or within 3 months of giving birth.
Resigning in Saudi Arabia — Article 79 Bis | Do I get gratuity if I resign?
Your final settlement — what to check before you sign
When the employer ends the contract, dues must be settled within one week; when you resign, within two weeks (Article 88). The employer may deduct legitimate work-related debts. Before signing anything, check each line separately: the EOSB award itself, unused annual-leave encashment, notice-period pay, and overtime. Do not sign a “full and final settlement” paper you disagree with — it is routinely used to close claims.
Final settlement calculation | Notice period guide | Overtime calculation | Annual-leave encashment calculator
Saudi tools & guides
Every calculator below is free and uses the same verified formulas as the guides.
Saudi EOSB calculator — Article 84 award with Article 85 resignation tiers.
Final settlement calculator — EOSB plus leave, notice and overtime in one figure.
Overtime calculation guide — how the overtime rate is built, step by step.
Annual-leave encashment calculator — unused leave converted to cash.
Domestic-worker gratuity calculator — separate rules for domestic workers.
End of service for domestic workers — the domestic-worker rules explained.
Notice-period pay calculator — what your notice period is worth.
Notice period guide — notice rules under the Saudi Labor Law.
Probation period guide — probation rights and end-of-service during probation.
Hourly-wage converter — monthly wage to daily and hourly rates.
GOSI calculator — GOSI contributions on your wage.
GOSI for expats guide — what the 2% actually covers.
Iqama dependent-fee calculator — dependent levy totals.
Iqama renewal fees 2026 — renewal fees and what changed.
Overtime pay calculator — Saudi overtime rates on your actual wage.
GOSI and iqama in brief
GOSI (General Organization for Social Insurance) covers expatriate workers at 2% of wage for occupational hazards. Iqama fees are separate from your EOSB and are usually the employer’s responsibility for the worker’s own permit, while dependent fees are commonly borne by the worker — use the calculators above for exact figures rather than guessing.
Claiming unpaid EOSB — the route in order
- Demand it in writing — email or a message that leaves proof — stating the amount from your own calculation and a deadline.
- Gather your evidence before your final exit if possible: your Qiwa employment contract, iqama copy, salary slips and bank statements showing salary deposits, your Qiwa service record, and any termination or resignation letter.
- File a complaint through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) channels, including Qiwa and the labour office.
- The amicable settlement stage, where an officer tries to settle the dispute.
- If it does not settle, the case goes to the Labour Court.
What you can claim depends on your case: the end-of-service award itself, plus unpaid salary, unused leave balance, and notice-period pay where applicable. File promptly — labour claims have filing deadlines and delay weakens your evidence.
How to claim unpaid EOSB in Saudi Arabia
Latest Saudi news
The newest Saudi labour developments, each checked against official or reputable sources before publishing.
- Absent-worker transfer via Qiwa
- Deportation crackdown 2026
- Saudi eVisa: 66 countries 2026
- Qiwa documented contracts
- Qiwa registration cancelled
- Saudization quotas 2026
- Seasonal visa suspension 2026
- Visa ban fact-check 2026
- Yemen amnesty, October 2026
All Gulf news | Gulf end-of-service comparison | Remittances: USD 161 billion in 2026
Frequently asked questions
How is end of service calculated in Saudi Arabia?
Under Article 84 of the Saudi Labor Law, you earn half a month’s wage for each of your first 5 years of service, and one full month’s wage for each year after that. The calculation uses your last wage – basic salary plus fixed allowances such as housing and transport. Partial years are prorated.
Do I get end of service benefits if I resign in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, but with reductions under Article 85: less than 2 years of service means no benefit; 2 to under 5 years gives one-third; 5 to under 10 years gives two-thirds; 10 years or more gives the full amount.
Is there a maximum cap on Saudi end of service benefits?
No. Saudi Labor Law does not place an upper cap on end-of-service benefits for private-sector workers.
Are allowances included in the EOSB calculation?
Fixed allowances such as housing and transport are included in the ‘last wage’ used for the calculation. Variable pay, commissions and one-off bonuses are generally excluded.
Do I get EOSB if my fixed-term contract simply expires?
Yes. Natural expiry of a fixed-term contract is treated like termination by the employer – you receive the full benefit with no resignation reduction.
How long does my employer have to pay my final settlement?
Under Article 88, when the employer ends the contract, dues must be settled within one week; when you resign, within two weeks.
Sources: Saudi Labor Law (Articles 84, 85, 87, 88; Article 79 Bis 2025 amendment); Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD); Qiwa; GOSI. All figures on this page match the calculators and guides linked above. This is general information and an estimate only — never legal advice. Verify your final figures against your Qiwa contract before signing anything.