School holidays in Saudi Arabia: 2023 and 2024

Once you know when your kids are off school, you’ll be able to plan childcare, vacations, and days out. As well as a few vacation breaks, there are several public holidays in Saudi Arabia to keep in mind. Keep reading for an overview of:

School holidays in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia sets term dates for schools. These are usually published in winter for the following school year. Saudi schools generally have three breaks each year:

• Mid-Year Holidays: two weeks in late December to mid-January
• Eid al-Fitr Holidays: two weeks around the Eid al-Fitr religious holiday (in 2024, this was in early April)
• Year End Holidays: Around 12 weeks from early June until late August

As Saudi state schools are only open to citizens and certain residents, it’s highly likely your child will study at an international school. These schools usually follow a similar schedule to local schools, but some have longer school years broken up by more regular half-term breaks. Contact your school for more information.

It’s important to keep an eye on the public holidays, as you might be entitled to leave from work and businesses are likely to be closed. Of course, there’s more to public holidays than just a day off school or work. For example, while Eid al-Fitr is generally centered around prayer and family, some celebrations involve the whole community. There are also plenty of festivals to discover in Saudi Arabia – from cultural, to national, to religious. These may be something to consider if you’re planning your vacations for the coming year.

School holidays in Saudi Arabia: 2023–2024

• First day of school: 20 August 2023
• National day holiday: 24 September 2023
• Long weekend: 11 November 2023
• First semester vacation: 16–25 November 2023
• Long weekend: 17 December 2023
• Mid-Year Holidays: 4–13 January 2024
• Long weekend: 28 January 2024
• Second semester holidays: 22 February – 2 March 2024
• Eid al-Fitr Holidays: 28 March – 14 April 2024
• Year End Holidays: 10 June – 18 August 2024

All dates are subject to change – check your school’s academic calendar

School holidays in Saudi Arabia: 2024–2025

• First day of school: 18 August 2024
• National day holiday: 22 September 2024
• Long weekend: 17 October 2024
• First semester vacation: 7–16 November 2024
• Long weekend: 11 December 2024
• Mid-Year Holidays: 3–11 January 2025
• Second semester holidays: 20 February – 1 March 2025 (Foundation Day Holiday: 23 February)
• Eid al-Fitr Holidays: 20 March – 6 April 2025
• Long weekend: 4 May 2025
• Eid al-Adha holiday: 30 May – 15 June 2025
• Year End Holidays: 15 June – 23 August 2024

All dates are subject to change – check your school’s academic calendar

Public holidays and additional days off

Bear in mind that there are national holidays and short breaks throughout the year that might coincide with school terms:

• Saudi National Day: 23 September 2024
• Eid al-Fitr: Predicted 30 March 2025
• Eid al-Fitr holiday: 20 March – 6 April 2025
• Arafat Day: 5–6 June 2025
• Eid al-Adha: 6 June 2025
• Eid al-Adha holiday: 30 May – 15 June 2025

Check with your child’s school to find out about extra days off for teaching training or service days.

Childcare during school holidays in Saudi Arabia

If you need to find daycare for children during the holidays, there are a few options in Saudi Arabia:

• Workplace childcare: Saudi labor law states that employers should offer babysitting services or a nursery if they employ more than 50 women. Check with your employer to find out if they provide childcare.
• Summer camps: There are plenty of summer camps based in Saudi Arabia’s larger cities. For example, the British Council sometimes runs summer camps for children to improve their English. There are also sports camps available through Sports For All, and many camps advertise on social media, so check Instagram for ideas.
• Nannies, babysitters, and au pairs: There are many international nannies in Saudi Arabia who can care for your child from the comfort of your home.