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Holidays & Celebrations

Public holidays in Saudi Arabia in 2025

Ready for a vacation? Here’s a list of public holidays in Saudi Arabia, as well as other dates to add to the calendar in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Holidays in Saudi Arabia
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Updated 11-2-2025

Whether you’re living in Saudi Arabia or just visiting, it’s important to note these holidays, as some local businesses may be closed. What’s more, it’s a great opportunity to explore the country’s traditions and culture in action.

Read on for Saudi Arabia’s public holidays and other important dates for your calendar.

An overview of public holidays in Saudi Arabia

There are five official public holidays in Saudi Arabia. The most widely celebrated one is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Expect to see fireworks displays, circuses, discount sales, and other events during the celebrations. Workers are entitled to leave for the entirety of the period, and families and friends meet up to exchange gifts.

While Friday is a rest day in Islam, Saudi Arabia does not carry over national holidays to the following Saturday.

A family prays at table before eating a meal during Ramadan
Photo: Sami Abdullah/Pexels

There are plenty of other occasions to celebrate throughout the year, however. To find out more, visit our article on the best festivals in Saudi Arabia.

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Lifestyle

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When are Saudi Arabia’s public holidays in 2025?

Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.

DateWeekdayHoliday
22 February 2025SatSaudi Founding Day
31 March – 3 April 2025Mon–ThuEid al-Fitr
5 June 2025ThuArafat Day
6–8 June 2025Fri–SunEid al-Adha
23 September 2025TueSaudi National Day

Other important dates in 2025

Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.

DateWeekdayOccasion
27 January 2025MonLailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension)
1 March 2025SatStart of Ramadan
11 March 2025TueFlag day
21 March 2025FriMother’s Day
26–27 March 2025Wed–ThuLaylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
4–5 June 2025Wed–ThuStart of Hajj season
16 June 2025MonFather’s Day
26 June 2025ThuMuharram (Islamic New Year)
Hoardes of people gather around the Black Stone (Kabba) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia (Photo: Yasir Gürbüz/Pexels)

When are Saudi Arabia’s public holidays in 2026?

Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.

DateWeekdayHoliday
22 February 2026SunSaudi Founding Day
20–22 March 2026Fri–SunEid al-Fitr
26 May 2026TueArafat Day
27–29 June 2026Sat–MonEid al-Adha
23 September 2026WedSaudi National Day

Other important dates in 2026

Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.

DateWeekdayOccasion
15–16 January 2026Thu–FriLailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension) (tentative date)
18 February 2026WedStart of Ramadan (tentative date)
11 March 2026WedFlag day
21 March 2026SatMother’s Day
15–16 March 2026Sun–MonLaylatul Qadr (Night of Power) (tentative date)
26 May 2026TueStart of Hajj season (tentative date)
16 June 2026TueFather’s Day
16 June 2026TueMuharram (Islamic New Year) (tentative date)

When were Saudi Arabia’s public holidays in 2024?

DateWeekdayHoliday
22 February 2024FriSaudi Founding Day
9–13 April 2024Tue–SunEid al-Fitr
15 June 2024SatArafat Day
16–18 June 2024Sun–TueEid al-Adha
22–23 September 2024Sun–MonSaudi National Day

Other important dates in 2024

DateWeekdayOccasion
6–7 February 2024Tue–WedLailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension)
11 March 2024MonFlag day
11 March 2024MonStart of Ramadan
21 March 2024ThuMother’s Day
5 April 2024FriLaylatul Qadr (Night of Power)
14 June 2024FriStart of Hajj season
16 June 2024SunFather’s Day
7 July 2024SunMuharram (Islamic New Year)

When are the school holidays in Saudi Arabia?

Want to know when your children have a day off? Learn more by reading our article on school holidays in Saudi Arabia.

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Education

School holidays in Saudi Arabia

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Author

Bettina Borg

About the author

Born in Malta, Bettina has lived in Ireland, Scotland, and now the Netherlands. She has experience working as a journalist at The Malta Independent and as an International Officer at the University of Malta.

Bettina’s topics of interest have a sense of whimsy about them, including lifestyle, food and drink, and holidays and celebrations.

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