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Money & Financing

Saudi GOSI Pension Guide 2026, Eligibility and Calculation

Complete overview of Saudi social insurance (GOSI): pension eligibility, calculation formula, new retirement age after the 2024 reform, disability and survivor pensions.

Saudi Arabia's General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) was established in 1389 AH (1969 CE) and underwent a major reform in 2024 raising the statutory retirement age. This guide explains the two parallel systems now in force, the calculation formula, and rules for early retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

Two Parallel Systems

The 2024 retirement reform (Royal Decree M/273 of 1445 AH) created a dual system based on the subscription start date:

CriterionOld SystemNew 2024 System
Who it applies toAnyone enrolled before July 3, 2024Anyone enrolled after that date
Base retirement age60 (men) / 55 (women)65 for all (with transition phase)
Contribution minimum25 years allowed early retirement15 years (180 months) for standard-age retirement, 30 years for early
Pension formulaAvg wage over last 2 years × years × 2.5%Avg of highest 180 contribution months × years × flat 2.25% (Art. 17)
Cap100% of average wage100% of average wage

The rationale: extend active working life in line with rising life expectancy and ease long-term pressure on the insurance fund.


Pension Formula (Old System)

For legacy subscribers (pre-2024), the base formula is:

Monthly pension = (average contributory wage over last 24 months) × (years of contribution) × 2.5%

Worked example: 30 years of contribution with a 24-month average wage of 10,000 SAR:

  • Pension = 10,000 × 30 × 2.5% = 7,500 SAR/month

Pension cap: cannot exceed 100% of the average wage, so someone with 40 years of contribution reaches the maximum, above which the pension does not grow further.


Early Retirement (Old System)

To retire before the statutory age:

  • Core requirement: at least 25 years of contribution
  • Age: any age is possible after completing the required years
  • Reduction: a reduction coefficient applies based on the age gap between early retirement and the statutory age, per a unified schedule in the regulations

Example: someone who contributed 25 years and retired at 45 loses roughly 15–20% of the pension to offset the additional years of payout.


Disability Pension

Paid to a subscriber who loses ability to work before retirement age. Two types:

1. Non-Work-Related Disability

Requires:

  • Active GOSI contribution (no fixed minimum, but the medical committee assesses each case)
  • A certified medical report proving total or partial disability
  • Complete inability to work

The pension is calculated based on average wage × actual years + notional years to complete the minimum entitlement.

2. Work-Related Disability

Paid without any minimum contribution requirement and is not subject to the reduction schedule. The medical committee determines the disability percentage and the pension is calculated accordingly.


Survivor Benefits

Share allocation per the Social Insurance Law:

BeneficiaryBase share
WidowFull share
Son under 21 (or student under 26)Full share
Unmarried daughterFull share
ParentsShare if financially dependent

Shares are recalculated when the beneficiary count changes (daughter marries, son turns 21, death). When no eligible beneficiary remains, the pension stops.


Contributory Wage — What Counts

The wage base for pension calculation includes:

  • Full basic wage
  • Housing allowance if paid regularly and consistently
  • Transport allowance if a regular part of the monthly wage
  • Fixed work-nature allowance

Excluded:

  • Irregular incentive bonuses
  • Variable commissions
  • Overtime pay
  • Discretionary annual bonuses

Contributory wage cap: 45,000 SAR per month. Amounts above the cap do not count toward the pension calculation and no contribution is due on them.


Checking Your Current Balance

Via Tamennati you get:

  • Actual months of contribution
  • History of previous employers
  • Monthly recorded wages
  • Expected pension calculator — based on your real data

The official Tamennati calculator is more accurate than any external one because it knows your recorded wages and applies your system (old or new) automatically.


Additional Questions

Can I combine GOSI pension with end-of-service gratuity? Yes. The gratuity is paid by the employer under the Labor Law; the pension is paid by GOSI under the Social Insurance Law. There is no conflict.

What if my contribution had gaps? Each contribution period counts independently and is summed. Gaps do not erase prior periods, but the 24-month wage average is drawn from the final 24 months of actual contribution.

Can I pay contributions for prior years (buy service)? Yes in specific cases (prior military service, work outside the Kingdom before enrolling). Check Tamennati for the exact criteria.


Official Sources


Read also: Pension Estimator Calculator · End-of-Service Gratuity Calculator · Saudi Salary Dates 2026 · Employee Rights Under Saudi Labor Law · Net Salary After Social Insurance

الأسئلة الشائعة

Royal Decree M/273 of 1445 AH raised the statutory retirement age gradually to 65 years, keeping subscribers enrolled before July 3, 2024 under their prior system (age 60 or 25 years of contribution). New subscribers after that date fall under the new framework.

The core formula: (average contributory wage) × (years of contribution) × accrual rate. Both the rate and the reference wage differ by system: the old system uses 2.5% per year on the average wage over the last 24 months; the new system after the 2024 reform uses a flat 2.25% per year (Article 17) on the average of the highest 180 contribution months — not graduated brackets as sometimes claimed. Pension cannot exceed 100% of the average wage.

Under the old system, 25 years of contribution allowed early retirement below age 60, subject to a reduction coefficient based on age gap. The new system since 2024 requires reaching age 65 except for narrow exceptions.

The retirement pension is paid on reaching the statutory age or completing the required contribution. The disability pension is paid to a subscriber who loses ability to work fully before retirement age, with no minimum contribution requirement for work-related disability.

The widow, children, and parents receive shares per the GOSI distribution schedule. Shares are recalculated whenever the number of eligible beneficiaries changes (daughter marries, son turns 21, death), and end when the last eligible beneficiary is no longer eligible.

The retirement pension enjoys partial protection from seizure. It can only be garnished for specific reasons (child support, judicially confirmed debts) and up to 50% of the pension per Article 70 of the Social Insurance Law.

The 1st of each Gregorian month, unified from May 1, 2024. Before that it was paid on 27 Hijri. See our [salary and support schedule guide](/saudi-salary-dates-2026-2027) for details.

Part of the series: Retirement & Pensions

Article 1 of 4

GOSI pensions, early retirement, and the government pension fund — eligibility and how benefits are calculated.

  1. 1.Saudi GOSI Pension Guide 2026, Eligibility and CalculationPillar guide
  2. 2.GOSI Retirement Pension Estimator 2026, Calculate It Accurately
  3. 3.Early Retirement in Saudi Arabia 2026: Conditions, Calculation, and Procedures
  4. 4.Public Pension Agency (PPA) 2026: Entitlement, Calculation, and Post-Merger Status

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