Saudi Maternity Leave Calculator
Enter the expected delivery date and your leave start date to see the last day of leave, your return date and the compulsory weeks.
Plan your maternity leave
Maternity leave after the Article 151 amendment
Since 19 February 2025, maternity leave in the private sector has been 12 weeks on full pay, with no minimum service. The worker may arrange it as she wishes, on two conditions: it may not start more than 4 weeks before the expected date of birth, and 6 weeks of it must fall after the birth.
Leave around childbirth in Saudi Arabia
| Leave | Length | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity leave | 12 weeks, up to 4 before the birth and at least 6 after | Full pay |
| Optional extension | 1 month | Unpaid |
| Sick or disabled baby | 1 month, extendable by 1 month | Full pay, then unpaid |
| Paternity leave | 3 days within 7 days of the birth | Full pay |
Example: expected date 1 June 2026, leave from 4 May 2026 (four weeks before). The 84 days end on 26 July 2026, and you are back at work on 27 July — provided the baby arrives on time.
Pay continues in full throughout the leave: on an actual wage of SAR 9,000 that is 84 days × 300 = SAR 25,200, with no deduction. With the optional unpaid month, the return date in the example moves to 27 August 2026 and that month is unpaid.
Other leave for working parents
| Leave | Length | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | 5 days on full pay | Article 113 |
| Death of a spouse, parent or child | 5 days on full pay | Article 113 |
| Death of a brother or sister | 3 days on full pay (new in 2025) | Article 113 |
| Iddah of a Muslim widow | 4 months and 10 days on full pay, extended unpaid until birth if pregnant | Article 160 |
| Non-Muslim widow | 15 days on full pay | Article 160 |
| Nursing breaks | Breaks totalling no more than an hour a day, without a pay cut | Article 154 |
The ministry's awareness guide says the nursing hour lasts 24 months, while the article itself sets no period. Dates for every type of leave are in the Saudi special leave calculator. A worker who resigns within three months of giving birth keeps her full end-of-service award (Article 87); see the end-of-service calculator.
Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.
Frequently asked questions
How long is maternity leave in Saudi Arabia after the 2025 amendments?
12 weeks (84 days) on full pay, up from 10 weeks. The change has been in force since 19 February 2025 under Royal Decree M/44.
Is there a minimum service requirement for maternity pay?
No. Article 152, which linked maternity pay to length of service, was repealed, so an employee is entitled to all 12 weeks on full pay whatever her length of service.
When can maternity leave start?
The employee decides how to spread the weeks, provided the leave starts no more than 4 weeks before the expected delivery date and 6 weeks are taken after the birth. The expected date is set by a certified medical certificate.
What if the baby arrives late?
If the birth is late so that less than 6 weeks of leave remain after it, the shortfall is granted unpaid to complete the 6 compulsory weeks.
Can maternity leave be extended?
Yes. The employee may always extend the leave by one unpaid month. If the baby is sick or has a disability and needs constant care, she gets one month on full pay after maternity leave ends, extendable by one unpaid month.
How much paternity leave is there?
3 days on full pay, taken within 7 days of the birth, under Article 113 as amended in 2025.
Can I be dismissed during pregnancy or leave?
No. The employer may not dismiss or warn of dismissal during pregnancy or maternity leave, including illness arising from pregnancy or delivery for up to 180 days a year (Article 155).
Sources
- Umm Al-Qura — Labour Law amendments by Royal Decree M/44, Articles 113 and 151 (Arabic)
- Ministry of Human Resources — fully paid maternity leave for working women, June 2025 (Arabic)
- Clyde & Co — Saudi Labour Law amendments: leave entitlements (April 2025)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.