How many days is the Eid holiday in the private sector? Are National Day and Founding Day holidays for every employee? And what if your employer asks you to work on a holiday? Official holidays in Saudi Arabia are a right of the employee under the Labor Law, and the Implementing Regulations set their days and length. Here they are in one place.
Official holidays for the private sector
| Holiday | Days | Starts |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | 4 days | The day after 29 Ramadan |
| Eid al-Adha | 4 days | The Day of Arafah |
| National Day | 1 day | 23 September |
| Founding Day | 1 day | 22 February |
All of these holidays are fully paid and separate from annual leave, so they are not deducted from it. Government-sector holidays are set under the civil service rules and announced each year, and their length may differ from the private sector.
The days above are what the regulations set for the private sector; the Ministry of Human Resources announces the dates of each holiday in advance, so check the current official announcement.
Expected dates in 2027
| Holiday | Expected date |
|---|---|
| Founding Day | Monday 22 February 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr 1448 | Around 9 March 2027, subject to the moon sighting |
| Eid al-Adha 1448 | Around mid-May 2027, subject to the moon sighting |
| 97th National Day | Thursday 23 September 2027 |
The Eid dates are approximate because they follow the moon sighting; the Ministry announces the official start and end.
If the holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday
If National Day or Founding Day falls on a weekly rest day, the practice is to give the employee a working day off before or after it: the Thursday before if it falls on a Friday, and the Sunday after if it falls on a Saturday. This is announced at the time. Read the National Day holiday and the Founding Day holiday.
Your rights on official holidays
- Full pay for the holiday, with no deduction from salary or from annual leave.
- If you work on the holiday, your hours are overtime with extra pay. Read working on an official holiday.
- If an official holiday falls during your annual leave, it is generally not counted against it.
- An employer may not agree with an employee in advance to give up these holidays.
For all other leave (annual, sick, marriage, bereavement, paternity), read employee leave under the Labor Law.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Eid al-Fitr holiday in the private sector?
Four fully paid days starting the day after 29 Ramadan, under the Implementing Regulations; the Ministry announces the dates each year.
Is Flag Day or an international day an official holiday?
No. The official private-sector holidays are the two Eids, National Day and Founding Day, unless a decision says otherwise.
My employer did not give me the Eid holiday. What can I do?
Claim overtime pay for the days you worked, and you can file a complaint. Read labor office complaints.
Are government holidays different?
Yes, their length may differ, because they follow the civil service rules and what is announced each year.
Lost your holiday rights or pay?
The Usus Law Firm team handles labor cases: claiming holiday pay, complaints and labor claims, in Riyadh and Tabuk.
Legal review: the Usus Law Firm team
A select team of lawyers and legal advisers licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Justice, working from Riyadh and Tabuk, with experience before the general, commercial, labor, criminal, personal status and administrative courts. Every article is reviewed before publication and updated when laws or regulations change.
Last reviewed: 12 October 2026
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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