What Are The Public Holidays in Saudi Arabia in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Saudi Arabia (2026)

Saudi Arabia’s public holidays in 2026 are primarily based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so exact dates for some religious holidays are confirmed closer to the time. Below is an indicative list of the main national public holidays your company should plan around.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Saudi labor law generally requires employers to provide paid leave on official public holidays for eligible employees, with specific rules for the Eid holidays and Saudi National Day. Public holidays are counted as fully paid working days and should not reduce an employee’s annual leave balance. Where Islamic holidays are concerned, the exact dates and length of the holiday period are confirmed by government announcement, and you should follow the official circulars issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

In practice, most private sector employees receive several paid days off for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, plus Saudi National Day. Part-time employees are typically entitled to paid public holidays on a pro rata basis if the holiday falls on a day they would normally work, but you should confirm this in the employment contract and internal policies. If your business requires staff to work on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to their normal wage plus a premium rate or compensatory time off in line with Saudi labor law and any applicable contract or collective agreement.

Saudi Arabia does not have regional public holidays in the same way some countries do; the main holidays are national and apply across all regions. However, because Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting, there can be minor variations in the exact start or end date compared with other countries. Always rely on official Saudi government announcements for the final dates and communicate any changes promptly to your team.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

If your company fails to grant or correctly pay public holiday leave in Saudi Arabia, you risk administrative penalties, financial fines, and potential disputes with employees. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is the main enforcement authority and can investigate complaints, review payroll records, and order corrective action where violations are found.

Fines can be imposed per violation and may increase for repeated non-compliance. In serious or persistent cases, authorities can suspend services, restrict access to government portals, or escalate matters to the labor courts. Employees can file claims for unpaid wages, including unpaid public holiday pay or missing premium pay for work performed on holidays, and courts may order back pay plus potential additional compensation.

Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as unpaid leave, deducting them from annual leave balances, failing to apply premium pay when employees work on a holiday, or not updating schedules when the government adjusts the official dates. To reduce risk, keep clear written policies, align them with the latest Saudi labor regulations, and ensure your local HR and payroll teams understand how to classify and pay public holiday hours.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Saudi Arabia, public holidays interact with overtime rules because work performed on an official holiday is generally treated more strictly than ordinary overtime. If an employee works on a public holiday, they are usually entitled to their regular wage plus an overtime premium, often calculated at a higher rate than standard overtime, or to equivalent paid time off, depending on the law and the employment contract.

Daily and weekly working time limits still apply, and any hours beyond those limits, whether on a normal day or a public holiday, may trigger overtime obligations. For example, if an employee’s normal schedule is eight hours per day and they work additional hours on a holiday, those extra hours are typically paid at an overtime rate on top of the holiday premium. Night work or work in hazardous roles can also attract higher rates.

Because Saudi overtime calculations can be technical and are periodically updated by regulation, you should confirm the exact multipliers and thresholds with up-to-date legal guidance or a local payroll expert. Document your approach in your internal policies so managers know when they must obtain approval for holiday work and how to record those hours accurately.

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