Education Ministry Adds 'Golden Handshake' Option in Faris

The Ministry of Education has added a new option called the "Golden Handshake" (المصافحة الذهبية) as a reason for resignation for teachers and other staff within the Faris human resources system, giving eligible employees a voluntary path to end their service in exchange for a one-time financial incentive.

The Ministry describes the Golden Handshake as a voluntary resignation program rather than early retirement or a pension scheme. Beneficiaries receive a lump-sum payment for leaving service, while any pension entitlement remains subject to the general retirement laws and their separate conditions. The program targets teachers and teaching staff under the civil service system in public schools and does not apply to employees on private or charter school contracts.

Participation is not mandatory and requires mutual consent: the employee must apply, and the competent authority within the Ministry must approve the request for it to take effect. Announced eligibility parameters include a minimum number of years of service and a defined age range or age bands, though the exact thresholds and full details of the implementing regulations have not yet been officially published as of August 2026. Priority is given to staff with lower academic qualifications, then gradually to higher qualifications, to keep the most qualified workforce in service.

Who is excluded

Employees who already meet the conditions for early retirement under existing regulations are excluded from the Golden Handshake; their cases continue to follow standard early retirement procedures. After approval and resignation, the position is generally abolished and removed from the staffing table, except for supervisory posts that may be refilled based on need. Beneficiaries are not rehired within the same entity under this program unless they later qualify under normal retirement rules that permit re-employment.

Detailed financial formulas and exact Saudi Riyal amounts for the incentive have not yet been officially published. Public explanations so far describe only the general principle of a significant financial incentive paid as a lump sum. Existing end-of-service gratuity rules for teachers outside this program remain in place, calculated based on years of service and final salary.

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