Working hours, overtime and Ramadan hours

Limits set by the Labor Law for private-sector workers.

General information, not advice. This page summarises publicly available rules in plain language. It is not legal advice or a recommendation to take any action. Procedures, fees and fines change without notice and can differ by case. The official portal below is the only authoritative source.

Key figures

Normal hours: Up to 8 hours a day and 48 a week
Ramadan (Muslim workers): Up to 6 hours a day and 36 a week
Breaks: No more than 5 hours in a row without a break of at least 30 minutes
Rest day: At least one full paid day off a week, usually Friday
Overtime pay: Your hourly wage plus 50% of your basic wage
Time-off instead of pay: Allowed if agreed, at least 1.5 hours off per overtime hour

Steps

Keep your own record of extra hours (dates and times).
If overtime is not paid, raise it with HR in writing first.
If it is still unresolved, file a labor complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources (HRSD).

Last checked: 2026-10-24. Confirm current rules on the official source: hrsd.gov.sa

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