How much paid maternity leave you're entitled to in Saudi Arabia under the current (2025-amended) Labor Law — 12 weeks at full pay, no minimum service required.
Figures in SAR.
| Service | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Total paid maternity leave | 12 weeks (84 days) at full (100%) pay |
| Mandatory post-delivery portion | At least 6 weeks |
| Can start before delivery | Up to 4 weeks before the expected date, on medical certificate |
| Minimum service required | None — the pre-2025 tenure tiers were removed |
| If newborn is sick / needs continuous care | +1 further month fully paid, plus another month unpaid |
| Unpaid extension (any case) | 1 further month available |
| Who pays | Employer, in full |
This reflects the CURRENT law (effective ~Feb 2025), which increased leave from the previous 10 weeks and removed the old tenure-based pay tiers (full pay ≥3yrs / half pay 1–3yrs / unpaid <1yr). Source: Saudi Labor Law, Article 151, as amended by Royal Decree M/44 of 1446H (effective ~Feb 2025).
12 weeks (84 days), all at full (100%) pay — increased from 10 weeks under an amendment to Article 151 effective around February 2025.
No, not anymore. The 2025 amendment removed the previous tenure-based tiers (which used to give full pay only at 3+ years of service, half pay for 1–3 years, and unpaid under 1 year). Now it's 12 weeks full pay regardless of tenure.
At least 6 weeks must be taken immediately after the birth. The rest of your 12 weeks can be started up to 4 weeks before your expected delivery date, on a medical certificate.
You can get a further month fully paid, plus an additional month unpaid, if your newborn is sick or has special needs requiring your continuous care.
Your employer pays your salary during the leave. Saudi's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has separately introduced a maternity-related benefit under its newer social-insurance regime for registered contributors — but the employer-paid salary under the Labor Law is the core entitlement covered here.