Posted by : Saudi Expatriates
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Saudi Arabia Working Hours Defined: Every day, Weekly, Ramadan & Extra time Guidelines
A brief rationalization of Articles 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 106 and 108 of the Saudi Labor Regulation.
Article 98: Most Working Hours in Saudi Arabia
In accordance with Article 98 of the Saudi Labor Regulation:
➤ No worker or employee shall be obliged to work greater than 8 hours a day. Trending: Staff can take motion if full salaries will not be paid in 30 days
➤ The whole working time per week should not be greater than 48 hours if the employer adjustments the working hours for any purpose.
➤ In the course of the month of Ramadan, Muslim staff shouldn’t work greater than 6 hours a day and 36 hours every week.
Article 99 permits totally different working hours for sure jobs and industries.
In accordance with the legislation:
✦ Working hours could also be elevated to 9 hours a day for workers in sure operations or industries the place work isn’t steady.
✦ Working hours could also be decreased to 7 hours a day for workers working in dangerous or hazardous industries or operations.
✦ The classes of staff and industries coated below these exceptions are decided by a call of the Minister.
Article 100: Shift Work and Ministry Approval
Underneath Article 100, an employer might request approval from the Ministry when work is carried out in shifts.
The employer might enhance working hours past:
★ 8 hours per day, or
★ 48 hours per week,
supplied that the common working hours over a interval of three weeks don’t exceed 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week.
Article 101: Relaxation Breaks Throughout Working Hours
Article 101 requires employers to offer staff with sufficient relaxation breaks.
The legislation states:
» An worker should not work for greater than 5 consecutive hours with no break.
» Workers should be given time for relaxation, prayer, and meals.
» The break interval should be not less than half-hour. Most Considered: Tremendous for hiring expat employee with out work allow
» An worker should not work greater than 12 hours in in the future, together with working and break intervals.
In accordance with Article 102:
■ Relaxation or meal breaks will not be counted as working hours.
■ In the course of the break, the worker isn’t below the employer’s authority.
■ The employer can’t require the worker to stay on the office throughout the break or relaxation interval.
Article 106: Instances The place Regular Working Hour Guidelines Might Not Apply
Underneath Article 106, employers will not be required to observe the provisions of Articles 98, 101, and Paragraph (1) of Article 104 within the following conditions:
1. Annual Enterprise Actions
These embrace:
✓ Annual stock
✓ Price range preparation
✓ Liquidation
✓ Closing of accounts
✓ Preparations for low cost campaigns
✓ Seasonal gross sales
The variety of days staff work below this exception should not exceed 30 days in a single 12 months. Learn: Working hours throughout Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
2. Stopping Accidents or Losses
The exception applies when work is required to:
🔘 Stop a hazardous accident.
🔘 Scale back the consequences of an accident.
🔘 Stop imminent losses involving perishable supplies.
3. Extraordinary Work Stress
Employers might lengthen working hours when operations are going through extraordinary work pressures.
The exception additionally applies throughout:
☆ Eid holidays.
☆ Different seasons and events.
☆ Seasonal actions decided by a Minister’s determination.
Most Working Hours Underneath These Exceptions
Even within the above instances:
• Precise working hours should not exceed 10 hours per day.
• Precise working hours should not exceed 60 hours per week.
The utmost additional time hours allowed every year are decided by a call of the Minister.
Article 108: Workers Exempt from Articles 98 to 101
The provisions of Articles 98 to 101 don’t apply to the next classes of staff:
1. Senior Administration
Workers holding high-ranking administration positions who’ve authority over different staff.
2. Preparatory or Supplemental Work
Workers performing work that should be accomplished earlier than or after regular working hours.
3. Intermittent Work
Workers whose work is intermittent by necessity.
4. Guards and Janitors
Guards and janitors are exempt, besides civil safety guards. See Additionally: New Saudi labor legislation violations and penalties
The Implementing Laws specify the operations coated below paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, together with the utmost working hours allowed for these classes.
Abstract of Saudi Labor Regulation Working Hours
✧ Throughout Ramadan, Muslim staff may fit as much as 6 hours per day or 36 hours per week.
✧ Sure jobs might require 9 hours per day, whereas hazardous jobs could also be restricted to 7 hours per day, as decided by the Minister.
✧ Employers working shift work might exceed regular limits with Ministry approval, supplied the three-week common doesn’t exceed the authorized restrict.
✧ Workers should obtain a minimal 30-minute break after not more than 5 consecutive working hours.
✧ Break intervals will not be counted as working hours, and staff can’t be required to stay on the office throughout their break.
✧ In particular conditions reminiscent of annual stock, seasonal gross sales, extraordinary work stress, accident prevention, and Eid or seasonal actions, working hours could also be prolonged to 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week. Really helpful: That is how additional time hours are calculated in Saudi Arabia
✧ Senior managers, sure preparatory staff, intermittent staff, and guards and janitors (besides civil safety guards) are exempt from the conventional working hour provisions below Article 108.
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