Saudi working hours and Ramadan hours explained

Working hours in the Saudi private sector are set by Articles 98 to 107 of the Labour Law.

Normal hours

• Up to 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week, depending on whether the employer uses a daily or weekly standard.
• Some jobs and industries can work up to 9 hours a day, and some hazardous work is limited to 7, by ministerial decision.
• Shift work can average the hours over three weeks or less, with ministry approval.

Ramadan

During Ramadan, Muslim workers work no more than 6 hours a day or 36 hours a week. Pay stays the same.

Breaks and limits

• No more than five hours in a row without a break of at least 30 minutes for rest, prayer and meals.
• No more than 12 hours a day at the workplace, including breaks.

Rest day

Every worker gets at least one paid weekly rest day, normally Friday. It can be another day with notice to the ministry.

Overtime

Hours beyond these limits are overtime, paid at the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic hourly wage. Work on rest days and official holidays also counts as overtime. See the Saudi overtime guide for a worked example.

For holidays, read Saudi public holidays and Eid leave. To count working days between two dates, use the working days calculator.

Sources

• Saudi Labour Law (Royal Decree M/51), as amended with effect from February 2025
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD)
• Qiwa

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