Saudi Labor Law New Working Hours 2025

The Saudi Labor Law has determined the number of new daily and weekly working hours, and has also allowed the possibility of increasing the number of working hours in some cases, provided that the worker is granted compensation for overtime.

Saudi Labor Law New Working Hours

Below you can find the number of daily and weekly working hours according to Article 98 of the Saudi Labor Law: ^[1]

See More: Labor Office Contact Number | Labour Office Service Inquiry | Labor Law end of Service Calculator | End of Service Benefits | Labor Law Article 81 | Labour Law Amendments

Saudi labor system overtime hours

The Saudi Labor Law allows companies whose work nature requires shift work to increase the number of working hours beyond 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week, provided that the average number of working hours over three weeks does not exceed 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week. The employer must pay the worker additional wages for overtime hours equivalent to the hourly wage plus (50%) of the basic wage. Overtime hours may be replaced with vacation days with the worker’s consent, noting that working hours on holidays and festivals are considered overtime hours.

Saudi labor system rest hours

The Saudi Labor Law imposes on the employer to organize working and rest times during the day so that the worker does not work more than 5 consecutive hours without a break period allocated for prayer and eating of at least half an hour each time, and on condition that the worker does not remain in the workplace for more than 12 hours a day. Rest periods are not counted within the actual working hours, noting that the Minister can specify the jobs in which work must continue without a break period.

Saudi labor system weekly holiday

Friday is considered a weekly holiday for all work, and the employer may inform the labor office of the need to replace the holiday for some work with another day due to the nature of the work. In this case, the employer must enable the workers to perform their religious duties, noting that the weekly day of rest is paid and must not be less than 24 hours, and the worker may not be granted cash compensation for the weekly day of rest. The above-mentioned exceptions are places far from residential areas or those whose nature of work requires continuing work, so that the worker’s weekly days of rest are accumulated for no more than 8 weeks.

Saudi Labor System Working Hours Exceptions

The number of daily and weekly working hours shall be exempted, provided that they do not exceed 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week, in the following cases:

• Annual inventory work, budget preparation, liquidation, closing accounts, preparing for sale at a reduced price, and preparing for seasons, provided that the worker is not employed for more than 30 days per year due to these works.
• If the working hours will prevent a serious accident or to repair what resulted from a serious accident or to avoid a loss due to perishable materials.
• If the work is to meet unusual work pressure.
• On holidays, seasons, occasions, and seasonal work determined by the Minister.

Conclusion

The Saudi Labor Law addresses working hours, rest hours, overtime, and exceptions to each in a way that protects the rights of the worker and the employer.