Saudi Founding Day National
Founding Day on 22 February commemorates the establishment of the First Saudi State by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727. It became an official holiday in 2022.
Saudi Arabia Public Holidays 2026
Official Calendar
Complete Guide to Islamic Holidays, National Days & Work Schedule in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Public Holidays List 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day | Hijri date | Days off | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Founding Day | Sunday | 5 Ramadan 1447 AH | 1 day | National | |
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday | 1 Shawwal 1447 AH | 4 days (18 March – 21 March) | Religious | |
| Arafat Day | Tuesday | 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH | 3 days (27 May – 29 May) | Religious | |
| Saudi National Day | Wednesday | 12 Rabi al-Thani 1448 AH | 1 day | National |
Weekend days: Friday and Saturday
Note: Religious holiday dates may vary based on moon sighting and could change by one day. Please check official sources for confirmation.
Long Weekends 2026
Plan your vacations! There are 3 long weekends this year where public holidays connect with regular weekend days.
-
3 days off 20 February – 22 February
Saudi Founding Day
-
4 days off 18 March – 21 March
Eid al-Fitr
-
5 days off 26 May – 30 May
Arafat Day + Eid al-Adha
Saudi Arabia Calendar 2026
Public holiday Weekend
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 — Saudi Founding Day | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
- 22 February Saudi Founding Day
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 — Eid al-Fitr | 19 — Eid al-Fitr | 20 — Eid al-Fitr | 21 — Eid al-Fitr |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 20 March Eid al-Fitr
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 — Arafat Day | 27 — Eid al-Adha | 28 — Eid al-Adha | 29 — Eid al-Adha | 30 |
| 31 |
- 26 May Arafat Day
- 27 May Eid al-Adha
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 — Saudi National Day | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
- 23 September Saudi National Day
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Religious Holidays
- Based on Islamic (Hijri) calendar
- May vary based on moon sighting
- Move about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year
National Holidays
- Fixed dates every year
- Celebrate historical events
- Usually single-day observances
2026 Holiday Summary
- Total public holidays
- 5
- National holidays
- 2
- Religious holidays
- 3
- Total days off
- 10
- Long weekends
- 3
- Weekend days
- Friday and Saturday
About Public Holidays in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's public holiday calendar reflects both its role as the custodian of Islam's two holiest sites and its distinct national history. National Day on 23 September commemorates the unification of the kingdom under King Abdulaziz in 1932, while Founding Day on 22 February — added as an official holiday in 2022 — marks the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1727. Religious public holidays are limited to Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha (with Arafat Day) — Saudi Arabia gives no days off for the Islamic New Year or the Prophet's Birthday — and their dates follow the Supreme Court's moon sighting announcements. Each Eid break lasts about four days; the Eid Al-Adha break begins on Arafat Day, at the height of the Hajj season, when millions of pilgrims are gathered in Mecca and Mina.
Practical Information for Residents and Visitors
- All government ministries and public institutions close on officially declared public holidays.
- Saudi Labour Law requires private sector employers to grant full paid leave on all official public holidays.
- Retail outlets may operate reduced hours during Eid periods, particularly around prayer times.
- Eid dates are officially announced by the Supreme Court after the moon sighting, typically one to two days in advance.
Official source: Government of Saudi Arabia
Public Holiday Details 2026
Eid al-Fitr Religious
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and falls on 1 Shawwal in the Hijri calendar. Families attend the Eid prayer in the morning, visit relatives and exchange gifts, and children traditionally receive Eidiya money. The exact start is confirmed by moon sighting, so the date can move by one day. See Eid 2026 dates for all Arab countries.
Arafat Day Religious
Arafat Day falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, when pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat for the most important rite of the Hajj. Many Muslims who are not on pilgrimage fast on this day. It immediately precedes Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha Religious
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, begins on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day after pilgrims stand at Mount Arafat during the Hajj. Muslims perform the Eid prayer and many sacrifice a sheep or other livestock, sharing the meat with family, neighbours and those in need. It is the longest public holiday of the year in most Arab countries. See Eid 2026 dates for all Arab countries.
Saudi National Day National
Saudi National Day on 23 September marks the unification of the Kingdom under King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1932, celebrated with green flags, fireworks and air shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Saudi Arabia have in 2026?
Saudi Arabia has 5 public holidays in 2026: 2 national and 3 religious, adding up to about 10 days off.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2026 in Saudi Arabia?
Eid al-Fitr in Saudi Arabia falls on Friday, 20 March 2026 (1 Shawwal 1447 AH), with 4 days off (18 March to 21 March).
When is Eid al-Adha 2026 in Saudi Arabia?
Eid al-Adha in Saudi Arabia falls on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), with 3 days off (27 May to 29 May).
What are the weekend days in Saudi Arabia?
The official weekend in Saudi Arabia is Friday and Saturday.
How many long weekends are there in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
There are 3 long weekends where public holidays connect with the weekend. The longest is 5 days, from 26 May to 30 May.