Last reviewed: August 26, 2026 · Holiday data: May 19, 2026
Saudi Arabia observes 10 public holidays in 2026. 7 fall on a weekday and 3 land on a weekend, leaving 254 working days across the year on the national-only count.
2026 public holidays calendar
Date
Day
Holiday
Notes
Feb 22
Sunday
Founding Day
Founding Day on Sunday February 22 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
Mar 20
Friday (weekend)
Eid al-Fitr (day 1)
Eid al-Fitr (day 1) lands on a Friday (March 20) and is absorbed into the weekend.
Mar 21
Saturday (weekend)
Eid al-Fitr (day 2)
Eid al-Fitr (day 2) lands on a Saturday (March 21) and is absorbed into the weekend.
Mar 22
Sunday
Eid al-Fitr (day 3)
Eid al-Fitr (day 3) on Sunday March 22 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
Mar 23
Monday
Eid al-Fitr (day 4)
Eid al-Fitr (day 4) on Monday March 23 produces a three-day weekend with the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday.
May 26
Tuesday
Arafat Day
Arafat Day on Tuesday May 26 is a bridge-day candidate; the Monday is sometimes granted as discretionary leave to produce a four-day weekend.
May 27
Wednesday
Eid al-Adha (day 1)
Eid al-Adha (day 1) on Wednesday May 27 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
May 28
Thursday
Eid al-Adha (day 2)
Eid al-Adha (day 2) on Thursday May 28 is a strong bridge-day candidate; many employers grant the Friday as discretionary leave to produce a four-day weekend.
May 29
Friday (weekend)
Eid al-Adha (day 3)
Eid al-Adha (day 3) lands on a Friday (May 29) and is absorbed into the weekend.
Sep 23
Wednesday
Saudi National Day
Saudi National Day on Wednesday September 23 breaks the working week without an obvious adjacent-weekend bridge opportunity.
2026 year summary
Total days
365
Weekend days
104
Public holidays on weekdays
7
Working days
254
The 3 weekend-falling public holidays in 2026 are absorbed into the regular Saturday and Sunday count, so the working-day reduction comes only from the 7 weekday-falling entries. Saudi Arabia observes Founding Day (22 February), Saudi National Day (23 September), and the lunar Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The workweek is Sunday-Thursday with a Friday-Saturday weekend.
Holidays not included
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays may be extended by royal decree to 5-6 days in some years (typically 9 days for Eid al-Fitr at the discretion of the King). This calculator uses the conservative core 4-day Eid set. Provincial governorate holidays (such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah civic commemorations) are excluded. The Saudi private sector aligns most operational closures with the public sector except in 24/7 industries (oil and gas, hospitality, healthcare).
How many public holidays does Saudi Arabia have in 2026?
Saudi Arabia observes 10 public holidays in 2026. Of those, 7 fall on a weekday and 3 land on a weekend. The complete list with dates and weekday placements is in the calendar table above.
How many working days does Saudi Arabia have in 2026?
Saudi Arabia has 254 working days in 2026 on the national-only count, after subtracting 104 weekend days and 7 weekday-falling public holidays. Regional or industry-specific holidays may further reduce the count for narrower contract definitions.
Which 2026 public holiday dates fall on a weekday?
7 of Saudi Arabia's 10 public holidays in 2026 fall on a weekday and reduce the working days count: Founding Day (Sunday, February 22); Eid al-Fitr (day 3) (Sunday, March 22); Eid al-Fitr (day 4) (Monday, March 23); Arafat Day (Tuesday, May 26); Eid al-Adha (day 1) (Wednesday, May 27); Eid al-Adha (day 2) (Thursday, May 28); Saudi National Day (Wednesday, September 23).
Which 2026 holidays fall on a weekend and how are they handled?
3 public holidays in 2026 fall on a weekend: Eid al-Fitr (day 1) on Friday, March 20; Eid al-Fitr (day 2) on Saturday, March 21; Eid al-Adha (day 3) on Friday, May 29. The country may shift the observance to an adjacent weekday by proclamation or industry custom; check the official gazette for the year in question.