Residents of Saudi Arabia will enjoy several public holidays this year across Kingdom due to its rich culture and traditions. Generally, the weekend covers Fridays and Saturdays while national holidays are celebrated as public holiday for both civil servants and private employees.
The holidays represent the rich cultural and religious heritage of Saudi Arabia because it allows celebrating and reflection on various occasions during the year.
List of Public Holidays in Saudi Arabia for 2024
Date | Holiday |
---|---|
February 22 | Saudi Founding Day |
April 10 | Eid Al Fitr |
June 15/16 | Day of Arafat |
June 16/17 | Eid Al Adha |
July 7 | Islamic New Year |
September 23 | Saudi National Day |
About the Holidays
Here’s a little bit about each of the holidays:
Saudi Founding Day
This day celebrates the founding of Saudi Arabia. In 2024 it falls on a Thursday with residents enjoying an extended weekend. The public sector employees are generally provided with a three day break while the private sector companies may offer one or two days.
Eid Al Fitr
The Eid Al Fitr holidays are celebrated at the end of Ramadan which changes yearly according to moon-sighting. Scheduled to land on a Wednesday in 2024, it will provide a longer holiday break to employees in the public and private sectors.
Day of Arafat
The day corresponds to the second day of Hajj, celebrated on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. It will be confirmed by the moon sighting committee around June 15 to 16.
Eid Al Adha
This Eid is celebrated following the Day of Arafat and the holiday is expected to fall on Monday in 2024. In Saudi Arabia, a two to three day paid holiday is typically offered for Eid Al Adha.
Islamic New Year
The first month in the Islamic calendar (Muharram) is viewed as the start a new year. The holiday is expected to fall on Sunday in 2024, but it is still unclear.
Saudi National Day
The day is ceremoniously celebrated in magnificence with fireworks, parades and recreational activities. It is expected to fall on the Monday in 2024,