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:
| Criterion | Old System | New 2024 System |
|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Anyone enrolled before July 3, 2024 | Anyone enrolled after that date |
| Base retirement age | 60 (men) / 55 (women) | 65 for all (with transition phase) |
| Contribution minimum | 25 years allowed early retirement | 15 years (180 months) for standard-age retirement, 30 years for early |
| Pension formula | Avg wage over last 2 years × years × 2.5% | Avg of highest 180 contribution months × years × flat 2.25% (Art. 17) |
| Cap | 100% of average wage | 100% 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:
| Beneficiary | Base share |
|---|---|
| Widow | Full share |
| Son under 21 (or student under 26) | Full share |
| Unmarried daughter | Full share |
| Parents | Share 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
- General Organization for Social Insurance, gosi.gov.sa
- Saudi Social Insurance Law, Bureau of Experts
- Royal Decree M/273 of 1445 AH, retirement system reform
- Tamennati portal
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 4GOSI pensions, early retirement, and the government pension fund — eligibility and how benefits are calculated.
- 1.Saudi GOSI Pension Guide 2026, Eligibility and CalculationPillar guide
- 2.GOSI Retirement Pension Estimator 2026, Calculate It Accurately
- 3.Early Retirement in Saudi Arabia 2026: Conditions, Calculation, and Procedures
- 4.Public Pension Agency (PPA) 2026: Entitlement, Calculation, and Post-Merger Status
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