Kuwait Probation Period 2026: 100 Days, No Notice
Kuwait keeps probation simple: a 100-working-day cap and no notice required either way. Here is the complete guide under Article 32 of Labour Law No. 6 of 2010.
Kuwait’s Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 takes a simple, symmetrical approach to probation: a short cap and no required notice. This guide explains the 100-day limit, what happens if employment ends during probation, and how it differs from neighbouring countries.
100 working days
Under Article 32, probation is capped at 100 working days and must be stated in your contract. You can only be placed on probation once by the same employer — an employer cannot reset the clock with a second probation for the same worker.
No notice needed — either way
Unlike the UAE, Bahrain or Oman, Kuwaiti law does not require any notice period to end employment during probation. Either party — employer or employee — can walk away immediately. This symmetry cuts both ways: you can leave without notice, and so can your employer.
What you’re actually owed
If your employer ends your employment during probation, they owe you wages for the days you actually worked — nothing more. There is no indemnity, no severance and no end-of-service benefit for a probation-period termination. Once you are past probation, ordinary Kuwait indemnity rules apply based on your total years of service — see the Kuwait indemnity guide.
The formula for a probation exit
Since only earned wages are owed, the calculation is simply: (monthly wage ÷ 26) × days worked. Kuwait uses the ÷26 daily-wage divisor here too, the same one used for indemnity and leave.
Worked example
An employee on a KWD 400 monthly wage whose employment ends after 45 working days:
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Daily wage | 400 ÷ 26 | KWD 15.4 |
| Wages owed | 45 × 15.4 | ≈ KWD 692 |
That is simply the pay you earned — no additional compensation. Estimate your own figure on the Kuwait Probation Period Calculator.
How Kuwait compares
Kuwait’s no-notice probation is unusually clean. Several neighbours require notice or partial benefits during probation, so if you have worked elsewhere in the Gulf, do not assume the same rules apply. Once you clear probation, Kuwait’s full framework kicks in — including the three-month notice for monthly-paid workers covered in the Kuwait notice period guide.
Practical tips
- Check your contract. Probation must be written into it, and it cannot exceed 100 working days.
- Know it is once-only. The same employer cannot probate you twice.
- Understand the trade-off. No notice protects flexibility on both sides, but means either party can end things abruptly.
Authoritative sources
Article 32 of Kuwait’s Labour Law No. 6 of 2010 is administered by Kuwait’s Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) and recorded in the ILO NATLEX record for Kuwait Labour Law No. 6 of 2010. For an independent legal overview of Kuwait probation rules, see DLA Piper’s Global Employment guide.
The trade-off of no-notice probation
Kuwait’s no-notice probation cuts both ways. It gives you the freedom to leave a job that is not working out immediately, without owing notice — but it gives your employer the same freedom to end things abruptly. During the 100 working days, that symmetry is the deal: maximum flexibility, minimum formality, and no end-of-service benefit if the trial does not lead to a permanent role.
Once you clear probation
Passing the 100 working days is a meaningful milestone. From that point your service is generally counted from your original start date for indemnity, and the full notice rules apply — three months for monthly-paid staff. So the same employment relationship goes from “walk away anytime” to a structured framework the moment probation ends. Knowing that boundary helps you time decisions on either side of it.
What to keep on file
Probation must be written into your contract and cannot exceed 100 working days, nor be repeated by the same employer. Keep your signed contract showing the probation clause and your start date. If a probation exit is disputed, the calculation is simply your earned wages, so a clear day count and pay figure resolve it quickly.
Key takeaways
- Probation is capped at 100 working days, once per employer (Article 32).
- No notice is required by either side during probation.
- A probation exit pays only earned wages — no indemnity.
- After probation, full indemnity and notice rules apply from your start date.
Frequently asked questions
How long can probation last in Kuwait?
A maximum of 100 working days, under Article 32 of Labour Law No. 6 of 2010. You cannot be placed on probation more than once with the same employer.
Is notice required to end employment during Kuwait probation?
No. Either the employer or the employee can end the employment during probation without any notice period.
What am I owed if let go during Kuwait probation?
Only your wages already earned for the days you actually worked — no indemnity, severance or end-of-service benefit for a probation-period termination.
Can I quit without notice during probation in Kuwait?
Yes. The right to end employment without notice during probation applies to both the employer and the employee.
What divisor is used for probation-period pay in Kuwait?
26. Earned wages are calculated as (monthly wage ÷ 26) × days worked, the same divisor used for indemnity and leave.