How to Claim Your EOSB in Saudi Arabia — Step-by-Step Guide

Under Saudi Arabia Labour Law, Article 84, your employer is obligated to pay your End of Service Benefit (ESB) when your employment ends, regardless of whether you resigned or were terminated.

The payment deadline is set by Article 88 and depends on who ended the contract: if your employer terminated you (or the contract expired), payment is due within one week of your last working day; if you resigned, your employer has up to two weeks to settle all entitlements. If your employer misses the applicable deadline, they are in breach of Saudi labour law.

Your ESB is calculated on your total salary including fixed allowances (basic + housing + transport + other fixed monthly allowances). This is different from the UAE, where only basic salary is used.

Your final payslip and settlement should include:

• End of Service Benefit (ESB) — calculated per Article 84, with any resignation tier reduction (Article 85) applied
• Outstanding salary — unpaid days worked
• Unused annual leave payout — accrued leave paid at full salary (basic + allowances)
• Notice period compensation — if terminated without full notice
• Repatriation ticket — employer must cover your return home

KSA-specific: Leave entitlement in Saudi Arabia is 21 days/year for the first 5 years, then 30 days/year after that. Unused leave is paid at full salary (including allowances), not basic salary.

Use our free ESB calculator for Saudi Arabia to verify the amount your employer should pay before you sign anything.

If your employer has not paid within the Article 88 deadline (one week after a termination or contract expiry, two weeks after a resignation), send a formal written demand. This is essential for building your case.

What to include:

• Your full name and Iqama number
• Employment start and end dates
• Your total monthly salary (basic + allowances)
• The calculated ESB amount with breakdown
• Reference to Article 84 of the Saudi Labour Law
• A deadline for payment (5 working days is standard)

Use our Letter Generator to create a professionally formatted demand letter with all required details and law references.

Delivery: Send via email and registered post (or hand-deliver with a signed acknowledgment). Keep copies of everything.

If your employer ignores your demand or refuses to pay, file a complaint with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD).

How to file:

1. Visit qiwa.sa (the official HRSD labour services platform)
2. Log in with your Absher credentials
3. Navigate to "Labour Services" → "Submit a Complaint"
4. Select complaint type: "End of Service Benefits / Final Settlement"
5. Enter employer details, complaint details, and amount claimed
6. Upload supporting documents
7. Submit — you will receive a case reference number

Alternative: You can also file through the Musaned platform (musaned.com.sa), particularly if you are a domestic worker.

Cost: Filing is free for all employees.

HRSD will contact your employer and attempt mediation. This typically takes 2–3 weeks.

If HRSD mediation does not resolve your case, you can escalate to the Labour Court. Since 2018, labour disputes in Saudi Arabia are handled by specialised labour courts under the Board of Grievances system.

• Filing fee: Free for employees claiming unpaid entitlements
• Timeline: First hearing typically within 2–3 weeks of referral; judgment in 1–3 months
• Language: Proceedings in Arabic — legal representation strongly recommended for non-Arabic speakers
• Execution: Court judgments are enforceable — the court can order bank account freezes and travel bans against company sponsors

Key advantage in KSA: Labour courts in Saudi Arabia are known for being employee-friendly. If your documentation is solid, the process is usually straightforward.

If you resigned (rather than being terminated), your ESB may be reduced based on how long you worked:

Exceptions — full ESB regardless of tier:

• Termination (any reason except Article 80 misconduct) = always full ESB
• Contract expiry = full ESB
• Female employee resigning within 6 months of marriage = full ESB
• Female employee resigning within 3 months of childbirth = full ESB

Use our Stay or Go Planner to see how waiting affects your tier and total entitlement.

Collect and safeguard these documents before leaving your employer:

• Employment contract (Arabic version is the legally binding version)
• Salary certificates (request from HR before leaving)
• Bank statements showing salary deposits (last 12 months)
• Iqama copy (take a photo/scan before return)
• Resignation letter or termination notice
• Your written ESB demand letter and any employer response
• GOSI statement (General Organisation for Social Insurance — shows registered salary and service period)
• Absher record (shows visa status, employer transfers)

GOSI tip: Download your GOSI statement from gosi.gov.sa — this is the government's record of your employment and is powerful evidence if your employer disputes your service period or salary.

When your employment ends in KSA, your employer must process a Final Exit Visa through Absher. Key facts:

• You have 60 days from the date the Final Exit Visa is issued to leave the country
• Check your visa status on absher.sa
• Your employer cannot withhold or delay your Final Exit Visa as leverage over an ESB dispute
• If your employer refuses to issue a Final Exit, file a complaint via Absher or contact the nearest HRSD office

Use our Visa Grace Period Tracker to calculate your exact exit deadline.