Kuwait Maternity Leave Calculator
Enter the expected delivery date, the leave start date and your wage to see the dates, pay, extension and nursing hours.
Work out your maternity leave dates
Maternity leave rules in Kuwait's private sector
| Item | Rule | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Length and pay | 70 paid days, not counted against other leave | Article 24 |
| Condition | The birth must fall within the 70 days; no service condition | Article 24 |
| Extension | Unpaid up to 4 months for childcare, at her request with the employer's approval | Article 24 |
| Nursing | Two hours a day; the duration is set by ministry decision | Article 25 |
| Protection | No termination during the leave or an illness caused by pregnancy or birth | Article 24 |
| Nursery | A nursery for children under 4 where there are over 50 women or over 200 workers | Article 25 |
| Paternity leave | Not provided by the law | — |
Example: expected date 10 December 2026, wage KWD 600 a month.
Starting on the birth date: leave until 17 February 2027, back on 18 February. Pay 70 × 20 = KWD 1,400.
With 4 months of unpaid childcare leave approved by the employer, she returns on 18 June 2027.
She may start before the birth as long as it falls within the 70 days, for example on 1 November 2026, ending 9 January 2027.
Days are calendar days and public holidays inside the leave do not extend it. Some guides split the leave "30 before and 40 after", but the law has no such split. Pay is the usual full wage, paid by the employer.
The government sector differs: two months on full salary provided the birth falls within them, then maternity care leave for Kuwaiti women (the first month on full salary and the next three on half salary if requested). For other leave use the Kuwait leave calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long is maternity leave in Kuwait's private sector?
70 paid days that are not counted against other leave, provided the birth falls within them; the law does not split them between before and after the birth (Article 24 of Labour Law 6/2010). There is no service condition.
Can maternity leave be extended in Kuwait?
The employer may grant, at the worker's request, unpaid leave of up to 4 months after maternity leave to care for the child; it is at the employer's discretion, not an absolute right.
How many nursing hours are there in Kuwait?
Two hours a day during work, on conditions set by a ministry decision (Article 25); the law does not set how long they last, and secondary sources disagree.
Can a worker be dismissed during maternity leave in Kuwait?
No. Her service may not be ended during the leave, or during an absence for an illness certified as resulting from pregnancy or childbirth.
Is there paternity leave in Kuwait?
The private sector Labour Law provides no paternity leave.
Sources
- Al Anba — text of Labour Law 6/2010 (Articles 24 and 25, Arabic)
- NATLEX — Kuwait Private Sector Labour Law 6/2010 and amendments
- WageIndicator — maternity and work in Kuwait (2026, Arabic)
- Kuwait University — policy supporting women during maternity: government sector (Mar 2026)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.