Saudi Public Holidays & Working Week Explained

Whether you have just moved to the Kingdom or you have lived here for years, understanding the rhythm of the Saudi calendar makes daily life much easier. From when offices open to when the whole country pauses for Eid, the working week and public holidays shape everything from banking hours to travel plans. This guide from سعودي ليفنج explains how the working week is structured, which public holidays you are entitled to, and how holiday dates are confirmed each year.

The Saudi working week

Saudi Arabia follows a Sunday to Thursday working week, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Friday in particular is the main day of rest, when the pace of the country slows and many businesses open only later in the day.

• Public sector: Government ministries and agencies typically work from roughly 7:30 to 14:30.
• Private sector: Hours vary widely. Many businesses use split shifts, with a morning session and an evening session separated by a long afternoon break.
• Ramadan: Daytime working hours are reduced during the holy month for most employees.

Public holidays for private-sector employees

Under the Labor Law, private-sector employees are entitled to paid public holidays. The main ones are:

• Saudi Founding Day: 22 February 2026 (Sunday) — 1 day.
• Eid al-Fitr: 4 paid days, beginning the day after the 29th of Ramadan on the Umm al-Qura calendar. In 2026 this falls around 20–23 March, with 20 March as the core Eid day.
• Eid al-Adha: 4 paid days, starting on Arafat Day (9 Dhul Hijjah). In 2026 this falls roughly on 26–29 May.
• Saudi National Day: 23 September 2026 (Wednesday) — 1 day.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has confirmed 23 September 2026 as an official National Day holiday for all employees in the private and non-profit sectors.

How the public sector differs

Government employees usually enjoy the same single-day holidays for Founding Day and National Day, but they generally receive longer breaks for the two Eids.

• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha breaks in the public sector often run around 7 to 10 days, including the surrounding weekend.
• Exact dates are announced each year through official government circulars, since they depend on the Umm al-Qura calendar and moon sighting.

Observances that are not paid holidays

Not every marked day on the calendar is a day off. Saudi Flag Day, observed on 11 March 2026 (Wednesday), is treated as a national observance rather than a paid public holiday under standard labor calendars. It is a moment of national pride, but offices and businesses generally operate as normal.

Why Eid dates can shift

Islamic holidays follow the lunar Umm al-Qura calendar, so their Gregorian dates move slightly each year and are only fully confirmed close to the time. For 2026, widely used civil calendars list the Eid al-Fitr block around 19–22 March and the Eid al-Adha block around late May, though some calendars show variations depending on the exact moon-sighting alignment. Because of this, it is normal for the precise start and end days to be announced only weeks in advance.

How to confirm official dates

To avoid disappointment when planning travel or leave, always confirm holiday dates through official channels rather than relying on early estimates.

• Check official Saudi government portals and electronic services for confirmed announcements.
• Follow circulars from the relevant Ministry for your sector.
• Ask your employer or HR department, as private companies may extend or adjust breaks around the official minimum.

A good rule of thumb: use the dates in this guide for early planning, but treat them as provisional until the official announcement is issued each year.

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