Last updated: 11 November 2026
Sick leave in Saudi Arabia is granted only after a doctor assesses you, not because you ask for it. The Ministry of Health said this on 11 November 2026, and repeated that forging a sick leave can mean up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 100,000.
This is a clarification, not a new law. But it tells employees and employers exactly how a real sick leave looks, how to check one, and who gets punished when it is fake.
What the Ministry of Health said
The ministry says sick leave is issued under approved rules, based on a medical assessment of your condition. It is not issued on the patient’s request or wish.
- The treating doctor decides whether you need leave and whether your condition affects your work or daily activities.
- The number of days depends on the diagnosis and on how many days that doctor is allowed to give. Anything longer needs extra approval from other doctors or a medical committee.
- Only authorised health facilities can issue sick leave.
The ministry also checks sick leave on its side: it reviews how leave is issued, inspects health facilities in the field and analyses sick leave data.
Follow Saudi Life Guide for Iqama, visa and job updates
New rules, fees and news as soon as we publish them. Join 95,500+ followers on Facebook.
How to check a sick leave is real
A genuine sick leave is electronic. You see it in the Sehhaty app, and anyone can check it on the Seha platform’s inquiry service.
- Open Sehhaty and find the leave in your medical reports.
- Employers: check the leave on the official Seha sick leave inquiry page and make sure the name, dates and facility match.
- Do not accept a photo of a document or a QR code on its own. The ministry warns these can lead to fake websites.
The Ministry of Health explains the service on its Sehhaty sick leave page.
Penalties for fake or unjustified sick leave
Penalties hit the doctor, the facility and the person who uses the leave. The amounts come from two laws.
| Who | Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone | Knowingly forging or issuing a false medical report or sick leave | Up to 1 year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 100,000 (Law of Forgery Crimes) |
| Doctor or health practitioner | Helping someone get leave they are not entitled to | Fine of up to SAR 50,000, licence cancelled and name removed from the register (Practice of Health Professions Law) |
| Health facility | Proven involvement in forged sick leave | Legal liability under Article 23 of the Law of Forgery Crimes |
| Employee who uses it | Getting a benefit they are not entitled to | Can be held accountable under the applicable rules |
The ministry lists these acts as violations: leave without medical reason, changing medical records to justify leave, leave from unauthorised people or places, helping someone get an undue benefit, and forging leave or its data.
Sick leave pay for private sector workers
A real sick leave is paid under the Labour Law. In one year you get full pay for the first 30 days, three quarters of your wage for the next 60 days, and no pay for the following 30 days, according to the Ministry of Human Resources.
That is why a fake leave is a bad bet. The paid days are already there for genuine illness, and a forged one can cost you your job as well as a court case.
What expats should do now
- If you are sick, see a doctor at a licensed facility. Your medical insurance covers the visit at an approved provider.
- Never buy a sick leave online or from a social media account. These are exactly the cases the ministry is chasing.
- Send your employer the leave from Sehhaty, not a screenshot.
- Report fake sick leave sellers to the ministry on 937.
What has not changed
The fines and prison terms are the same ones the ministry warned about in March 2025. The pay rules for sick leave under the Labour Law are also unchanged.