Overtime and Break Laws in Saudi Arabia (2026)
Labor Law (Royal Decree M/51 of 1426H) and its Implementing Regulations · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
Normal hours are 8 a day or 48 a week. Overtime pays the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic hourly wage.
Breaks and lunch
A break of at least 30 minutes after every 5 consecutive hours, for rest, prayer and meals, unpaid.
Overtime in Saudi Arabia
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 48 in a week.
- The 50% premium is on basic wage only, while the base hourly rate uses actual wage including allowances, so the effective multiplier is usually below 1.5x (HRSD worked example).
- All hours worked on public holidays and Eids count as overtime (Art. 107(3)).
- Overtime is capped at 720 hours a year unless the worker consents to more (HRSD).
- By agreement, overtime can be repaid as leave at no less than 1.5 hours per overtime hour, used within 60 days, max 30 days a year.
- Ramadan: Muslim workers limited to 6 hours a day or 36 a week.
- Art. 7 exempts family-member workers, domestic workers and some other categories.
Averaging over a pay period: Shift establishments may average over up to 3 weeks with Ministry approval (Art. 100).
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 48h in a week, 1.5x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 96 | 12 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in Saudi Arabia
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 5 hours or more.
- Meal break: 2 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 10 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 2 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 2 × 30 min, unpaid |
- Breaks are not working time and the worker may leave the workplace (Art. 102).
- Time at the workplace may not exceed 12 hours a day (Art. 101).
- Weekly rest day, normally Friday, cannot be paid out in cash.
Pay by Saudi Arabia rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick Saudi Arabia: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in Saudi Arabia?
Normal hours are 8 a day or 48 a week. Overtime pays the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic hourly wage.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in Saudi Arabia?
Shift establishments may average over up to 3 weeks with Ministry approval (Art. 100).
What breaks are required in Saudi Arabia?
A break of at least 30 minutes after every 5 consecutive hours, for rest, prayer and meals, unpaid.