Saudi Public Holidays & Working Week Explained

Whether you're settling into a new job in the Kingdom or planning your annual leave, understanding how the Saudi working week and public holidays work makes life much smoother. Between the Sunday-to-Thursday rhythm, reduced Ramadan hours, and the multi-day Eid holidays, the calendar here has its own logic. This Saudi Living guide breaks it all down in plain terms and lists the official 2026 public holidays for the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

The standard working week and weekend

The official working week in Saudi Arabia runs from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday serving as the weekend across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Friday holds special significance for the congregational prayer, so businesses and offices plan around it.

A full-time workload is typically around 40–48 hours per week, most often structured as 8 hours a day over 5 days. The exact structure can vary by sector and is ultimately set out in your labor contract.

Typical office hours

Government bodies and many corporate offices usually operate within one of two common windows, Sunday to Thursday:

• 08:00–16:00, or
• 09:00–17:00

Actual timings differ by entity and city, and some private companies (retail, hospitality, healthcare) run shift systems that extend into evenings and weekends. Always check your own contract and internal policy for the hours that apply to you.

Working hours during Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, daily working hours for Muslim employees are reduced to 6 hours per day in most sectors, with no reduction in pay. Many employers extend a shortened schedule to all staff as a practical courtesy, though the legal reduction specifically applies to Muslim employees. In 2026, Ramadan is expected to begin on Wednesday 18 February 2026, based on the Hijri calendar and official moon sighting.

Overtime and working on rest days

When you work beyond standard daily or weekly hours, overtime is generally payable at a premium rate. Higher multipliers apply when the work falls on official public holidays or on your weekly rest days. Because the precise rates and calculations are set by Saudi Labor Law and your contract, confirm the figures with your employer's HR team and cross-check against the official guidance before signing off on any overtime arrangement.

Official public holidays in 2026

The following holidays apply across the main sectors. Note that Islamic holiday dates depend on moon sightings, so the exact days are confirmed by royal or ministerial directives close to the time:

• Founding Day — Sunday 22 February 2026 (1 day)
• Eid al-Fitr — a multi-day holiday around Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March 2026 (Day 1 plus 2–3 holiday days)
• Day of Arafat — Tuesday 26 May 2026 (1 day)
• Eid al-Adha — a multi-day holiday around Wednesday 27 May to Friday 29 May 2026 (Day 1 plus 2–3 holiday days)
• Saudi National Day — Wednesday 23 September 2026 (1 day)

Two other dates are national observances rather than standard paid days off for most employees: Saudi Flag Day (11 March) and the Islamic New Year (16 June 2026).

Government vs. private sector, and weekend clashes

For government employees, the multi-day Eid breaks are often longer than in the private sector, with start and end dates announced each year close to the relevant Hijri dates. If a public holiday falls on the weekend, employees typically receive an alternative day off — most commonly the next working day — in line with current labor practice.

Knowing your rights

Your holiday entitlement, annual leave balance, and overtime are all governed by Saudi Labor Law and your labor contract. If a dispute arises over holiday pay or overtime, it can be raised through the online labor complaint and dispute channels operated under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, with formal legal claims handled via ناجز. Keep copies of your contract and payslips, and always verify current rules and exact dates on the relevant official Saudi government portal before making plans.

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