Saudi Arabia clarifies Hajj leave policy with 15-day limit and eligibility criteria

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has detailed the regulations governing Hajj leave, confirming that employees are entitled to a maximum of 15 days of paid leave to perform the pilgrimage, subject to specific eligibility criteria.

The ministry said employees can avail between 10 and 15 days of paid leave, inclusive of the Eid al-Adha holiday, provided they have completed at least two consecutive years of service with their employer. The framework applies to workers covered under the Kingdom’s labour law.

It also clarified that the benefit is limited in scope. Hajj leave may be granted only once during an employee’s entire period of service, and only if they have not previously performed the pilgrimage.

“An employee is entitled to a paid leave of 10 to 15 days, including the Eid al-Adha holiday, provided that the employee has completed two consecutive years with the employer. The employer has the right to determine the number of employees who may be granted this leave each year, based on work requirements. The employee is entitled to paid leave to perform the Hajj pilgrimage once during their entire period of service, if they have not performed it before.”

Employers, however, retain discretion in implementation. The ministry noted that organisations can determine how many employees are granted Hajj leave annually, depending on operational requirements and workforce planning considerations.

The move underscores Saudi Arabia’s effort to formalise employee entitlements while balancing business continuity with religious obligations under its labour framework.

The Abu Dhabi Government has also recently updated its leave framework, introducing provisions that include up to 15 days of leave for employees to perform Hajj.