A job offer letter is the letter a company sends a candidate setting out the job, salary and start date before the employment contract is signed. Type the candidate's name, job and salary into the offer letter template above: the total monthly salary is added up and written in words, and an acceptance box at the end lets the candidate sign. For a candidate who replies separately, there is an Acceptance letter tab.
The offer states the job, salary, allowances, start date and a deadline to reply. In the Advanced mode example: basic salary SAR 10,000, housing 2,500 and transport 1,000, a total of SAR 13,500.00 a month.
How to use the offer letter template
- Type the company, the candidate's name, the job title and the basic salary into the letter, then choose the start date.
- Switch to Advanced mode to add allowances, contract type, probation, working hours, leave, benefits and the reply deadline.
- Download the letter in Word to put it on your letterhead, or as a PDF to send, then wait for the candidate's signature in the acceptance box.
Offer letter or employment contract
The offer letter comes before the contract and carries only the main terms; the employment contract sets out all rights and obligations and, in the private sector, is documented through the unified contract on Qiwa. The Labor Law has no article dedicated to offer letters, but the letter is a written record both sides can point to if the contract differs from what was promised, so use the same figures you will put in the contract.
What a job offer letter contains
A job offer letter runs in this order: letterhead and date, greeting and the candidate's name, the offer itself, the position (title, department, place of work and start date), salary and allowances with the total in words, the terms (contract type and term, probation, working hours and leave), then the reply deadline, the company's signature and the acceptance box. For a flat salary with no allowances, leave the allowance boxes empty as in the "Accountant on a flat salary" example. For a candidate who is not a Saudi national, tick the box and the letter adds the work permit condition.
Offer letter template for Saudi companies
Basic salary plus housing and transport allowances is the usual pay structure in Saudi Arabia, so this offer letter sample lists them separately in riyals before the total. State probation and start date clearly, and keep the reply deadline short. The same letter is available in Arabic on the Arabic page, and many employers send both versions to a candidate who does not read Arabic.
Job offer acceptance letter
A candidate accepts by signing the box at the end of the offer, or by a letter confirming they accept the position on the stated terms and start date and listing the documents they will hand in. To negotiate salary or the start date, the candidate does not sign; they reply in writing with their request before the deadline, and the company issues a revised offer.
Common offer letter mistakes
- Salary or allowances in the offer that differ from the documented contract.
- A probation period longer than the Labor Law allows.
- An offer with no reply deadline, left hanging for weeks.
- A benefit promised in the offer that never makes it into the contract.
Regulatory notes
Probation is covered by Article 53, working hours by Article 98 and annual leave by Article 109 of the Saudi Labor Law, and several of these articles were amended recently. An offer letter does not replace the documented employment contract, so check the current texts with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development before relying on them.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a job offer letter binding on the company?
The offer is a written record of what the company promised, but the relationship is governed by the documented employment contract and the Labor Law. Keep the figures in the offer and the contract the same.
Can a company withdraw a job offer?
Before the candidate accepts, the offer lapses when the reply deadline passes or when the candidate is told in writing. After acceptance, withdrawing it may have legal consequences, so take advice first.
How long is a job offer valid?
As long as the letter says; the template offers three to ten days. After that the offer lapses unless the company extends it in writing.
Should the offer show total salary or a breakdown?
Show the breakdown: basic salary, then each allowance, then the total. The end-of-service award and GOSI are based on the basic salary, so the total alone is not enough.
What is the difference between an offer letter and an appointment letter?
The offer comes before acceptance and asks the candidate to reply. An appointment letter is issued after acceptance and signing, and tells the employee when and where they start.