What Are The Public Holidays in Sudan in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Sudan (2026)

Sudan’s public holidays are largely based on Islamic lunar dates, so exact Gregorian dates are confirmed by government announcement closer to the time. The table below reflects the main national public holidays expected in 2026, but you should always verify final dates locally.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, under Sudanese labour practice, public holidays are generally treated as paid rest days for employees, and your company should plan to provide paid leave on official national holidays. The Labour Act and related regulations require employers to respect official public holidays as non-working days with pay for eligible employees, unless the nature of the business requires continuous operation.

Where employees must work on a public holiday, they are typically entitled to both their normal pay for the day and additional compensation for work performed on the holiday, often in the form of premium pay or a paid day off in lieu. The exact mechanism can depend on the employment contract, collective agreements, and internal policies, so you should set this out clearly in your contracts and handbook.

Part-time and shift workers are usually entitled to public holiday pay on a pro-rated basis when the holiday falls on a day they would normally work. If the holiday falls on a non-working day for that employee, many employers either provide no additional pay or offer a substitute day off as a matter of policy, but this should be confirmed in writing.

Sudan’s public holidays are national rather than regional, although Christian holidays such as Christmas are more relevant for Christian employees and institutions. Because many holidays are based on lunar sightings, the government may adjust dates at short notice, and may also declare additional days off around Eid. Your company should monitor official announcements and update schedules and payroll cut-offs accordingly.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

If your company fails to honour public holidays or does not pay employees correctly for those days, you risk administrative penalties under Sudanese labour law. The Ministry of Labour and related inspection bodies can investigate complaints, order back payment of wages, and impose fines for non-compliance with working time and holiday rules.

Common employer mistakes include treating public holidays as normal working days without premium pay, failing to pay part-time staff for holidays that fall on their scheduled workdays, and not adjusting payroll when the government announces an additional observed day. Another frequent issue is misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid holiday and leave obligations.

Because enforcement practices and fine levels can change, and because the current political and regulatory environment in Sudan is fluid, you should work with a local legal adviser or a global employment partner to confirm the latest penalty framework. Keeping accurate records of work schedules, attendance, and holiday pay calculations is essential if you ever need to demonstrate compliance during an inspection or dispute.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Sudan, public holidays interact with standard working time and overtime rules by effectively converting those days into rest days for most employees. If an employee works on a public holiday, those hours are generally treated as exceptional and should attract premium compensation above the normal hourly rate, often similar to or higher than Sunday or rest-day work. The specific multiplier is not always spelled out in detail in statute and may be set by contract, collective agreement, or company policy, but paying at least 150% of the normal rate for holiday hours is a conservative, risk-averse approach many international employers adopt.

Hours worked on a public holiday can also count toward weekly overtime thresholds. If an employee’s total hours for the week exceed the statutory maximum because they worked on a holiday, you should treat the excess as overtime and apply the relevant premium. For salaried staff, you should still track working time so that you can demonstrate that weekly limits and rest requirements are respected.

Because practice can vary and official guidance may be updated, you should confirm with local counsel whether your overtime and holiday-pay structure aligns with current Sudanese requirements. Documenting your approach in employment contracts and policies helps avoid disputes and shows good-faith compliance if challenged.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Navigating Sudan’s mix of lunar-based religious holidays, short-notice government announcements, and evolving labour rules can be challenging if you are managing a distributed team from abroad. Playroll helps you stay ahead of these changes so your employees in Sudan are paid correctly and your company remains compliant.

With Playroll, you can hire team members in Sudan as employees or contractors without setting up a local entity, while we handle payroll, statutory benefits, and public holiday calculations in line with local practice. Our platform tracks official holiday announcements, adjusts work schedules and pay where needed, and keeps clear records of holiday and overtime payments for audit purposes.

You stay in control of day-to-day management, performance, and culture, while Playroll takes care of the complex back office:

• Employer of record costs – fully transparent, per-employee pricing
• Payroll processing – local currency, compliant with Sudanese rules
• Statutory benefits – including leave, social security, and holiday pay
• Compliance support – guidance on contracts, policies, and terminations
• Centralised reporting – a single view of your global team’s costs and leave

As regulations or public holiday calendars shift, Playroll updates the rules in the background so you do not have to. That means fewer compliance surprises, happier employees who know their holidays are respected, and more time for you to focus on growing your business in Sudan and beyond.