The Saudi Golden Handshake program has begun to surface for education staff after its option was added to the Faris HR system, raising immediate questions for teachers about eligibility, timing and financial terms. The appearance of the new resignation choice prompted teachers and administrators to seek clarity from ministries that are still drafting the implementing regulations for the initiative.
Education employees discovered the new option while navigating their Faris self-service accounts, a move that comes after the Cabinet approved the program in late 2024 and the approval was published in early 2025. Officials say more detailed guidance will follow once the implementing rules are finalized.
Golden Handshake program option appears in Faris for teachers
The Golden Handshake program entry now appears under the resignation workflows in the Faris HR system, listed as a reason for voluntary resignation. Users reported finding the choice after logging into Faris, selecting self-service, then the resignation and resignation request menus. Meanwhile, ministry officials have not yet opened a formal application window.
According to local reporting, the new option was added ahead of an official launch to give employees early visibility. However, the presence of the selection on Faris does not constitute an active enrollment period, and ministries have emphasized that program participation will require both employee consent and agency approval under forthcoming rules.
What the Faris update shows about the resignation incentive
The Faris update signals administrative readiness to accept Golden Handshake program requests once regulatory details are issued. The system placement suggests a process in which employees will submit a formal resignation request citing the program, which the employing agency will then review for eligibility and financial settlement.
Education staff have raised practical questions about how the Faris workflow will manage dual steps such as approval, incentive calculation and pension clearance. Officials tasked with implementation are expected to integrate these checkpoints into Faris so agencies can process resignations while protecting pension and severance entitlements.
Background: Cabinet approval, funding and implementing responsibilities
The Cabinet approved the Golden Handshake program in December 2024, and the approval was subsequently published in the official gazette early in 2025. The program aims to encourage voluntary departures from certain civil service positions through a financial incentive and settlement of entitlements, according to published summaries of the decision.
The government allocated roughly 12.7 billion Saudi riyals for the initiative over its initial three-year horizon. The decision directed the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and the Ministry of Finance to develop the detailed eligibility criteria, financial mechanisms and operational rules for the program, while agencies will identify target groups within civil service pay scales.
Unanswered questions: eligibility, incentive calculation and pension effects
Teachers and other staff have asked when applications will open, which job grades will qualify, and how the incentive will be calculated relative to pension entitlements and years of service. The absence of the executive regulation means those details are not yet public and will depend on criteria set by the responsible ministries.
Key unresolved points include treatment of employees who have not reached early-retirement thresholds, how the resignation incentive interacts with end-of-service benefits, and whether the program will affect future pension calculations. Officials have indicated that these matters will be addressed in the implementing rules and that agency approvals will be required for any departure under the civil service incentive.
Implications for the education sector and workforce planning
For the education sector, a voluntary exit mechanism backed by cash incentives could help agencies reorganize staffing and modernize payroll structures, but it could also create short-term gaps in classrooms if exits are concentrated among experienced teachers. Human resources planners will need to balance potential cost savings against continuity of instruction and recruitment timelines.
Furthermore, the program’s voluntary nature means retention strategies, rehiring practices and substitute teacher pools will influence how quickly ministries can fill vacancies. The Ministry of Education and school administrators will likely coordinate with human resources authorities to sequence approvals and limit disruption during academic terms.
Operational considerations
Integration with the Faris system will be central to implementation. The system must support eligibility checks, incentive calculations, approvals from multiple offices and coordination with pension and payroll units. Therefore, agencies may phase enrollment windows to manage workloads and ensure accurate settlement of rights.
What teachers and civil servants should watch next
Employees interested in the Golden Handshake program should monitor official announcements from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Ministry of Finance and their employing agencies. The next formal step is publication of the implementing regulation that will specify eligible categories, calculation methods and application timelines.
Meanwhile, the presence of the option in Faris does not guarantee immediate access to benefits; official communications will confirm when the system will accept formal requests and how agencies will process them. Employees are advised to seek guidance from their HR offices before taking any action.
Conclusion and next steps
The Golden Handshake program’s appearance in Faris marks a preparatory phase ahead of an official roll-out, but many operational and financial details remain pending. Officials will finalize eligibility criteria and approval processes in the implementing regulation, which will determine when applications open and how incentives are calculated.
Stakeholders should expect further announcements in the coming weeks or months, and education staff should watch for formal guidance from ministries and updates within the Faris system before making decisions about voluntary resignation under the program.
