What does article 112 Saudi labor law say, and which paid holidays does it give a private-sector worker?
Article 112 Saudi labor law gives each worker the right to full-pay leave on Eids and on the occasions specified in the Regulations. The article itself is one sentence. The details sit in Article 24 of the Implementing Regulations: four days for Eid al-Fitr, four days for Eid al-Adha and one day for National Day. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) has also announced Founding Day, 22 February, as an official holiday for the private sector.
This guide explains article 112 Saudi labor law only: the exact text, the length and start of each holiday, what happens when a holiday overlaps another day off, and what the worker is owed if he is asked to work. It does not cover annual leave or other types of leave in detail.
Did your employer deduct Eid days from your annual leave or refuse to pay for a holiday? You can send a short summary on WhatsApp and the Al-Safwa Law Firm team will review your contract and the dates in confidence before you take any step.
Table of Contents
Article 112 Saudi labor law at a glance
| Point | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | “Each worker”; the text sets no minimum length of service |
| Pay | Full pay on the holiday |
| Which occasions | Eids and occasions specified in the Regulations |
| Eid al-Fitr | 4 days, from the day after the 29th of Ramadan according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar |
| Eid al-Adha | 4 days, from the day of Arafat |
| National Day | 1 day, on the first day of Libra according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar |
| Founding Day | Announced by HRSD as an official holiday for the private sector on 22 February |
What does the text of article 112 Saudi labor law say?
The English text published by HRSD reads: “Each worker shall be entitled to full-pay leave on Eids and occasions specified in the Regulations.” Three points follow from this wording:
- “Each worker”. The right belongs to every worker. The article does not require a period of service before the worker can claim it, so a newly hired worker is covered.
- “Full-pay”. The holiday is paid in full. The employer cannot treat it as unpaid leave or deduct it from the wage.
- “Specified in the Regulations”. The article does not list the days. The Implementing Regulations do, which is why the number of days is found in Article 24 of the Regulations and not in the Law.
Holiday leave is separate from annual leave. Annual leave is governed by Article 109, which gives not less than 21 days, rising to 30 days after five consecutive years with the same employer. Our guide to annual leave in Saudi Arabia covers that right.
How many days does each holiday give under article 112 Saudi labor law?
| Occasion | Length | Start | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | 4 days | The day following the 29th of Ramadan, per the Umm Al-Qura calendar | Regulations, Article 24(I) |
| Eid al-Adha | 4 days | The day of Arafat | Regulations, Article 24(I) |
| National Day | 1 day | The first day of Libra, per the Umm Al-Qura calendar | Regulations, Article 24(I) |
| Founding Day | Official holiday on 22 February | 22 February | HRSD announcement for the public, private and non-profit sectors |
The start of the Eid al-Fitr and National Day holidays is tied to the Umm Al-Qura calendar, and the Eid al-Adha holiday is tied to the day of Arafat. Check the HRSD announcement each year for the exact calendar dates.
What happens when the holiday falls on the weekly rest day?
Article 24(II) of the Regulations deals with overlaps. If an Eid or National Day coincides with the worker’s weekly rest day, the worker receives an equal number of make-up days, either before or after the holiday. For example, if one of the four days of Eid al-Adha falls on the worker’s weekly rest day, he is owed one make-up day. The employer should record the make-up day in writing so that it is not lost.
What if Eid falls during annual leave or sick leave?
The Regulations treat the two cases differently:
- Annual leave: the annual leave is extended by the number of Eid days that fall within it. Eid days are not counted against the leave balance.
- Sick leave: the Eid days are paid in full, without applying the reduced sick-leave rate to those days.
Under Article 117, sick leave in a single year is paid at full wage for the first 30 days, three quarters for the next 60 days, and is unpaid for the following 30 days. Our guide to sick leave in Saudi Arabia explains that scale. Eid days that fall during a sick-leave period should therefore not be paid at the reduced rate.
What if National Day falls inside the Eid holiday?
When National Day falls on one of the days of the Eid leave, the Regulations provide that no compensation is due for that day. The worker is not owed an extra day, because the day is already a paid day off.
Can the employer ask a worker to work on Eid?
Article 106 of the Labor Law allows an employer to depart from the normal limits on working hours and rest in listed cases, which include Eids and other seasons or occasions designated by the Minister. Even then, actual work is capped at 10 hours a day or 60 hours a week.
Article 107 deals with the pay. It provides that overtime is paid at the hourly wage plus an additional half of the basic wage, and that all working hours performed during holidays and Eids are treated as overtime hours. So a worker who works on an Eid day is entitled to the overtime rate for those hours, in addition to the holiday itself. Our guide to working hours in Saudi Arabia explains the overtime rules in more detail.
In practice, a worker who is asked to work on an Eid should keep a simple record of the dates and the hours actually worked, for example from the attendance system or messages with the manager. That record makes it much easier to show later which hours were worked during the holiday and should have been paid as overtime.
What are common mistakes with article 112 Saudi labor law?
- Deducting Eid days from annual leave. The holiday is separate, and annual leave is extended when Eid falls inside it.
- Ignoring the make-up day. When an Eid day falls on the weekly rest day, the worker is owed an equal number of make-up days.
- Paying the normal rate for Eid work. Hours worked on Eid are treated as overtime.
- Requiring service before a worker can claim. The text says “each worker”.
- Using the wrong calendar. The Regulations start the Eid al-Fitr and National Day holidays by reference to the Umm Al-Qura calendar.
How does article 112 Saudi labor law differ from other leave rules?
It is easy to mix the holiday right with other leave rights. The table separates them:
| Right | Article | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Eid and occasion holidays | Article 112 and Regulations Article 24 | Full-pay leave on Eids and specified occasions |
| Annual leave | Article 109 | Not less than 21 days, rising to 30 days after five consecutive years with the same employer |
| Sick leave | Article 117 | 30 days at full pay, 60 days at three quarters, then 30 days unpaid, in a single year |
What should employers do each year?
Employers who apply the article correctly usually follow a simple routine:
- check the HRSD announcement for the Eid and holiday dates before the year starts;
- use the Umm Al-Qura calendar when working out the start of the Eid al-Fitr and National Day holidays;
- list the make-up days for workers whose weekly rest day falls inside a holiday;
- extend the annual leave of any worker whose leave overlaps an Eid;
- record hours worked on Eid as overtime and pay them accordingly;
- tell workers the holiday schedule in writing so there is no dispute later.
Practical examples
These examples are illustrations only. The result in a real case depends on the contract, the work schedule and the dates.
- Eid on the weekend. A worker’s weekly rest day is Friday, and the first day of Eid al-Fitr falls on a Friday. He is owed one make-up day, before or after the holiday, in addition to the other Eid days.
- Eid during annual leave. A worker takes 14 days of annual leave, and four of them fall during Eid al-Adha. His leave is extended by four days, so he returns four days later, not on the original date.
- Working on Eid. A security guard works eight hours on an Eid day. Those eight hours are treated as overtime hours under Article 107.
What can you do if the employer does not respect the holiday?
Start by collecting the work schedule, payslips and messages that show the holiday days and how they were treated. Then raise the unpaid amount through the amicable settlement stage. Article 234 of the Labor Law sets twelve months from the end of the employment relationship for labor court claims. Our guide to labour complaints in Saudi Arabia explains how to file. For a general overview of the Law, see our guide to the Saudi Labor Law, or speak to a labour lawyer in Jeddah if the dispute involves several claims.
Frequently Asked Questions about article 112 Saudi labor law
How many days of Eid leave does a private-sector worker get?
Four days for Eid al-Fitr and four days for Eid al-Adha, with full pay, according to Article 24 of the Implementing Regulations.
Is National Day a paid holiday in the private sector?
Yes. The Regulations give one day of full-pay leave for National Day, on the first day of Libra according to the Umm Al-Qura calendar.
Is Founding Day a paid holiday for private-sector workers?
HRSD has announced Founding Day as an official holiday for the public, private and non-profit sectors, and the holiday is listed as 22 February. Check the Ministry’s announcement and your contract for the details of pay.
Are Eid days deducted from my annual leave?
No. If Eid falls during annual leave, the leave is extended by the number of Eid days.
What if the holiday falls on my weekly rest day?
You receive an equal number of make-up days, before or after the holiday.
Do I get extra pay if I work on Eid?
Yes. Article 107 treats all hours worked during holidays and Eids as overtime hours, paid at the hourly wage plus half of the basic wage.
This guide covered article 112 Saudi labor law: the text, the length of each holiday, the overlap rules and the pay for work on a holiday. If you have a real question about your own situation, contact us through the WhatsApp button at the bottom of the screen.
Sources:
- Labor Law (English text) – Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
- Implementing Regulations of the Labor Law – Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
- Founding Day holiday announcement – Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development
- Labor Law – Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers (Arabic)
A legal advisor holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the prestigious Cairo University. He possesses extensive experience spanning over 25 years in criminal, civil, and family law, during which he has achieved notable accomplishments that have solidified his reputation as a valuable asset to any legal team
