Wages, working hours and overtime in Saudi Arabia

Pay dates and wage records

Monthly-paid workers must be paid once a month. Other lawful pay cycles depend on the wage category. Employers should use the approved banking wage system and keep accurate payroll files; workers should keep bank statements and payslips.

An unjustified delay or unauthorised deduction can be taken through the official labor-dispute route. Never sign a receipt saying that full pay was received when it was not.

Normal and Ramadan hours

The normal ceiling is eight actual hours per day or 48 per week, subject to recognised exceptions and shift arrangements. For Muslim workers in Ramadan it is six hours per day or 36 per week.

A worker should not work more than five consecutive hours without a break of at least half an hour for rest, prayer and meals, except in authorised continuous-work cases. Ordinary breaks are not actual working hours.

Overtime calculation

For each qualifying overtime hour, Article 107 requires the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic hourly wage. Every hour worked during holidays and official vacations is treated as overtime.

Paid compensatory leave can replace overtime pay only with the worker's consent and under the implementing regulations. The agreement and leave balance should be recorded.

• Keep duty rosters and clock-in records.
• Save written instructions to remain after the shift.
• Compare paid overtime hours with the actual approved hours.

Deductions and allowances

Only deductions authorised by law or valid consent are permitted. Housing and transport allowances do not have one automatic amount for every private-sector job; they may arise from the contract, work regulations or a specific decision.