You cannot compel an employer to do what he is not bound to do by law or by the terms of a contract. You can offer an incentive, such as pointing out that the employer would not have to pay for your final-exit plane ticket. You could offer to forfeit all or some of your end-of-service benefit (ESB). The employer is not compelled to give you a no-objection certificate, but is compelled to pay your ESB and for your flight home assuming you resign in accordance to the law and the terms of your contract, if any. If your employer refuses, your only recourse is to resign, collect your ESB and leave the country. You can return to the country after a year unless your job is of a sensitive nature to the employer, such as salesman, senior management or accounting. If that is the case you may not return for three years.

No. You have a right to resign, but with some responsibility to not leave your employer in a lurch. The best time to resign is at the end of your contract, which is typically the expiration date of your iqama. If you resign within an established work period, you could be considered breaching your contract. If that happens you may be expected to compensate your employer. Generally, if you resign under normal circumstances, this is not an issue. If you time your resignation with the end of your work period stated in your contract (or based on the expiration date of the work/residency permit) there should be no problem. It’s best you approach your employer to gauge his response before making any commitments, and be flexible about your termination date if you can.

SAGIA offers incredible facilities for foreign investment. Go to www.sagia.gov.sa and you will find answers to many of your questions. You can also visit a SAGIA office in Jeddah or Riyadh. They will help you. It is also good if you retain a lawyer for this.