Resignation letter template for Saudi Arabia (2025 rules)
A resignation letter is the employee’s written notice that they are leaving. In Saudi Arabia, an open-ended contract needs written notice under Article 75, at least 30 days for monthly-paid employees, while a fixed-term contract ends by resignation under the 2025 rules. Use this resignation letter template, then check the end-of-service share under Article 85.
Replace everything in [square brackets] with your details.
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
To: [Manager’s name], [Manager’s title]
[Company name]
Subject: Resignation
Dear [Manager’s name],
I, [Employee full name], employee number [Employee number], working as [Job title] in [Department], hereby submit my resignation from my position at [Company name].
[For an open-ended contract:] This letter is my written notice under Article 75 of the Labour Law. My notice period is [30] days from the date of this letter, so my last working day will be [DD/MM/YYYY].
[For a fixed-term contract:] I submit this resignation in writing, without condition, and ask the company to accept it.
I will continue to carry out my duties during this period and will hand over my work, documents and company property in an orderly way.
I request that my final settlement, including my wages, the value of my unused annual leave and my end-of-service award, be paid in accordance with the Labour Law, and that I be given an experience certificate.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with [Company name].
Yours sincerely,
[Employee full name]
Mobile: [Mobile number]
Signature: [Signature]
When to use it
Use it when an employee decides to leave. Hand it over in writing and keep proof of the date it was received, because the notice period, or the employer’s time to respond, runs from that date.
Open-ended or fixed-term: two different rules
Open-ended contract: notice under Article 75. Since the 2025 amendments, a monthly-paid employee who ends an open-ended contract gives written notice of at least 30 days. For employees not paid monthly, it is 30 days. The contract continues during the notice period and the employee is paid in full for it. An employee who does not observe the notice owes the employer the wage for the notice period, unless a larger amount was agreed (Article 76).
Fixed-term contract: resignation under Article 79 bis. The 2025 amendments define resignation as the worker’s written, unconditional wish to end a fixed-term contract, accepted by the employer, and set these rules:
- The resignation is deemed accepted if 30 days pass with no reply from the employer.
- The employer may postpone acceptance by up to 60 days if the work requires it, with a written reasoned explanation given before the 30 days end.
- The employee may withdraw within 7 days of submitting it, unless the employer has already accepted.
- The resignation may not name a later date for it to take effect.
- The contract stays in force while the request is pending, and the employee keeps all statutory rights.
End of service on resignation (Article 85)
| Years of service | Share of the end-of-service award |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 | None |
| 2 to 5 | One third |
| More than 5 and less than 10 | Two thirds |
| 10 or more | The full award |
A worked example: 7 years of service and a last actual wage of 10,000 SAR. The full award under Article 84 is 5 × 0.5 × 10,000 = 25,000 SAR for the first five years, plus 2 × 10,000 = 20,000 SAR for the next two, so 45,000 SAR. On resignation, the employee receives two thirds: 30,000 SAR. Check your own figures with the end-of-service calculator.
The employee is also owed wages to the last day and every unused day of annual leave (Article 111). When the worker ends the contract, the employer must settle everything within two weeks (Article 88).
Common mistakes
- Resigning by phone or message only, with no written date.
- Leaving before the notice period ends without agreement, which can cost the wage for the notice period.
- Writing a future effective date on a fixed-term resignation, which Article 79 bis does not allow.
In RafiqHR, a resignation starts the offboarding plan: clearance, the end-of-service award by reason for leaving and service length, and a final settlement tied to clearance.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I have to give when I resign?
On an open-ended contract, a monthly-paid employee gives at least 30 days’ written notice (Article 75 as amended in 2025); other employees give 30 days. Leaving without working the notice period means paying the employer the wage for the notice period, unless a larger amount was agreed (Article 76).
Do I get end-of-service if I resign?
Under Article 85: nothing with less than 2 years of service, one third of the award for 2 to 5 years, two thirds for more than 5 and less than 10 years, and the full award at 10 years or more. Article 87 keeps the full award for force majeure, and for a woman who ends her contract within 6 months of marrying or 3 months of giving birth.
Can I withdraw my resignation?
For a resignation from a fixed-term contract, Article 79 bis allows withdrawal within 7 days of submitting it, unless the employer has already accepted it.
What if the employer does not reply?
Under Article 79 bis, a resignation is deemed accepted if 30 days pass without a reply. The employer may postpone acceptance by up to 60 days when the work requires it, with a written reasoned explanation given before the 30 days end.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
