Paid National Day Holiday Set for Sept 23, 2026

Employees in Saudi Arabia's private and non-profit sectors will enjoy a paid day off on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, marking the Kingdom's 96th National Day, which corresponds to 12 Rabi Al-Thani 1448 AH. The decision and date were formally announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The holiday is a single day in 2026, falling on Wednesday, and is treated as a fully paid working day with no salary deduction for eligible workers. Because it lands on a weekday and does not coincide with the weekly rest days of Friday and Saturday, no compensatory day off applies this year.

The entitlement covers both Saudi and expatriate employees alike. Eligibility is based on the sector and the terms of the employment contract, not on nationality. Staff who are required to work on National Day are entitled to overtime pay for those hours under the Kingdom's labour regulations.

National Day on 23 September is a fixed, recurring official holiday observed across all sectors each year. As of mid-September 2026, no additional day off beyond the single National Day holiday has been officially confirmed for the private or non-profit sectors; any extension would require a separate announcement.

Across the Kingdom, celebrations typically bring extended and open hours for malls, restaurants, retail outlets, and entertainment venues, while banks and government offices close for the day. Most private commercial venues continue operating, giving residents in Riyadh, Jeddah, and other cities plenty of options to mark the occasion.

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