Saudi Public Holidays & Working Week Explained

Understanding when Saudi Arabia takes a break — and how the standard working week is structured — makes planning your year far easier, whether you are booking flights home, scheduling business meetings, or simply figuring out when the banks are open. This Saudi Living guide walks you through the official public holidays for 2026, explains the Sunday-to-Thursday working week, and clarifies how things can shift by sector.

Saudi public holidays in 2026

The Kingdom observes a mix of national and religious holidays each year. For 2026, the public holidays are:

• Founding Day — 22 February
• Eid al-Fitr — 20 to 22 March
• Arafat Day — 26 May
• Eid al-Adha — 27 to 29 May
• Saudi National Day — 23 September

Founding Day marks the historical roots of the Saudi state, while National Day celebrates its unification. The two Eid holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so their exact dates are confirmed closer to the time based on moon sightings.

What about Flag Day?

Flag Day, marked on 11 March, is an observance rather than a full public holiday. That means it is recognized and celebrated across the country, but it does not automatically come with a day off work. If you are planning around it, treat 11 March as a normal working day unless your employer states otherwise.

The Saudi working week

In most sectors, the standard working week runs from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday serving as the weekend. This is worth keeping in mind if you are coordinating with colleagues or family abroad who follow a Monday-to-Friday schedule — Thursday is effectively your last working day of the week, and Friday is the main day of rest.

A few practical points to remember:

• Friday is the primary weekend day, and many businesses open later in the afternoon.
• Government offices typically follow the Sunday-to-Thursday pattern.
• Retail, hospitality, and healthcare often operate through the weekend on rotating shifts.

How holidays and hours differ by sector

Not every workplace observes holidays in exactly the same way. Banks and financial institutions, for example, follow their own official holiday schedules, which can differ slightly from the general public-sector calendar in both dates and working hours. Around the Eid periods in particular, closures may extend or shift, and branch hours can be reduced.

If your plans depend on a specific service being available — completing a bank transfer, visiting a government counter, or renewing a document — it is always worth confirming the exact operating days and hours in advance rather than assuming they match the national holidays.

Planning your year around the calendar

A little forward planning goes a long way. Here are some tips to make the most of the Saudi holiday calendar:

• Book early around Eid. The two Eid holidays are peak travel periods, so flights and hotels fill up fast.
• Bridge your leave. When a public holiday falls near the weekend, adding a day or two of annual leave can create a longer break.
• Confirm lunar dates. Eid dates depend on moon sightings, so keep flexibility in your plans until they are officially confirmed.
• Check sector-specific schedules. Verify bank and government office hours through their official channels before relying on them during holiday periods.

Where to confirm the details

Holiday schedules, especially for the lunar-based Eids, are confirmed officially each year, and administrative timings can change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information — including exact working hours for banks and government services — always check the relevant official Saudi government portals and the announcements published by the ministry or institution involved. This ensures your plans stay accurate no matter which sector you work in or rely on.

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