A Complete List of Public Holidays In Saudi Arabia (2026 Updated)

Saudi Arabia is one of the most active business hubs in the Middle East, and companies across industries rely on clear workforce planning to stay compliant. 

Every year public holidays play an important role in how organizations schedule work, manage payroll, process leave and maintain continuity. As an employer in Saudi Arabia you must stay updated on the official holiday calendar to avoid compliance issues and last minute changes.

Our expert team has researched and listed all public holidays in Saudi Arabia for 2026 to help you plan ahead with accuracy. We already work with leading businesses in the region and offer a complete HR and Payroll platform that simplifies compliance and workforce management. You can bookmark this guide for quick reference throughout the year as you prepare your HR and operations calendar.

2026 Calendar For Saudi Arabia’s Public Holidays At A Glance

A quick overview of all public holidays in Saudi Arabia for 2026 is shared below. This at a glance calendar helps you plan your HR, payroll and staffing activities without missing any important dates.

ملاحظة مهمة: Some of the holiday dates mentioned above are tentative because Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar. The final dates for Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha will be confirmed based on official moon sightings in Saudi Arabia. Employers should review government announcements closer to the dates to ensure accurate planning.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Holidays In Detail (2026 Edition)

Now let us look at each public holiday in Saudi Arabia in detail. This will help you understand the purpose of every holiday and plan your HR, payroll and staffing activities more effectively throughout 2026.

Saudi Founding Day (22 February 2026)

Saudi Founding Day marks the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727 under Imam Muhammad bin Saud. It is a national holiday that highlights the country’s political roots, cultural identity and long standing leadership structure. 

Employers should account for this fixed holiday while planning payroll cycles and staffing schedules because it is always observed on 22 February. Businesses often use this day for cultural awareness programs and internal engagement activities.

Saudi Flag Day (11 March 2026)

Saudi Flag Day recognizes the national flag and its importance in the country’s history. The holiday focuses on the values represented by the green flag and the Shahada. Even though it is not a religious holiday, it is an important symbolic day for institutions, government offices and private companies. 

Since the date is fixed, employers can easily include it in yearly calendars, workforce capacity planning, communication schedules and operational arrangements.

Eid al Fitr Holiday (20 to 23 March 2026, Tentative)

Eid al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is confirmed only after the official moon sighting. The holiday period often includes several days to allow families time to gather, travel and complete traditional activities such as Zakat al Fitr. 

Employers should expect high leave requests around this period and plan staffing early. Payroll teams must ensure that holiday rules, leave encashment policies and working hour adjustments are applied correctly once final dates are announced.

Arafat Day and Eid al Adha Holiday (26 to 29 May 2026, Tentative)

Arafat Day is considered the most important day of the Hajj pilgrimage, followed by Eid al Adha which honors the act of sacrifice. The holiday period typically lasts several days and affects most industries due to high travel activity and family commitments. 

Since dates depend on the lunar calendar, employers must wait for official confirmation before locking work schedules. HR teams should plan for early leave approvals, project adjustments and payroll accuracy during this peak observance period.

Saudi National Day (23 September 2026)

Saudi National Day celebrates the unification of the Kingdom in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud. It is one of the most widely recognized national holidays and is observed consistently on 23 September every year. 

The day is marked by public events, cultural programs and national initiatives that highlight the country’s progress. Employers can plan ahead because the date never changes, which helps maintain clear staffing, shift planning and internal event scheduling across all departments.

How to Manage Payroll Effectively in Saudi Arabia?

While managing payroll in Saudi Arabia, you will need an automated system that can calculate salaries accurately, apply local rules and adjust for changing holiday schedules. Manual work creates errors and delays, especially when public and religious holidays shift each year. If you want a reliable solution, then Yomly is built for you. 

It is one of the best HR and payroll software platforms for Saudi Arabia’s businesses, with more than 1 million payslips processed every year. Companies at scale trust Yomly to manage payroll, public holidays, religious holidays and all employee leave records in one place. 

احجز عرضاً تجريبياً مجاناً اليوم and get a complete walkthrough of how Yomly can streamline your payroll and compliance operations.

الأسئلة المتداولة

1. How many public holidays are there in Saudi Arabia in 2026?

Saudi Arabia has several national and religious holidays in 2026, including Founding Day, Flag Day, National Day and the Eid holidays. Religious holidays are tentative until confirmed by moon sighting.

2. Are Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha dates fixed for 2026?

No, both Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha dates depend on the lunar calendar. The exact dates are confirmed only after the official moon sighting in Saudi Arabia, so employers should review updates closer to the holiday period.

3. Do employers need to provide paid leave on national holidays in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, national holidays such as Founding Day and National Day are typically observed as paid holidays. Companies must follow local labor regulations and apply correct payroll rules when employees work on these days.

4. How can HR teams plan effectively for 2026 Saudi public holidays?

HR teams should prepare annual calendars, review tentative Eid dates, plan staffing early and use automated payroll systems to avoid errors. Platforms like Yomly help manage holidays, leave, attendance and payroll with full compliance.