Egypt has 12 official paid holiday occasions in 2027, which add up to 15 paid days off for private-sector employees under Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025. Christian employees also get leave for their religious holidays, including Coptic Easter on Sunday 2 May. Five of the dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they are expected dates until the official moon sighting.
Last updated: Lunar dates are based on astronomical calculations and will be updated as official announcements come out.
Egypt public holidays 2027 at a glance
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | Banks closed for year-end | Not a public holiday. Falls on the banks’ weekend in 2027; the Central Bank of Egypt confirms any closure each December |
| 7 January | Thursday | Coptic Christmas | Paid holiday, fixed date |
| 25 January | Monday | January 25 Revolution and National Police Day | Paid holiday, fixed date. Could move to a Thursday |
| 10–11 March | Wednesday–Thursday | Eid al-Fitr (days 1 and 2) | Expected. Confirmed after the Shawwal moon sighting |
| 25 April | Sunday | Sinai Liberation Day | Paid holiday, fixed date |
| 1 May | Saturday | Labour Day | Paid holiday, fixed date |
| 2 May | Sunday | Coptic Easter | Leave for Christian employees |
| 3 May | Monday | Sham El Nessim | Paid holiday, always the Monday after Coptic Easter |
| 15 May | Saturday | Arafat Day | Expected. Confirmed after the Dhu al-Hijjah moon sighting |
| 16–17 May | Sunday–Monday | Eid al-Adha (days 1 and 2) | Expected |
| 6 June | Sunday | Islamic New Year (1449 AH) | Expected |
| 30 June | Wednesday | June 30 Revolution Anniversary | Paid holiday, fixed date. Could move to a Thursday |
| 23 July | Friday | Revolution Day (National Day) | Paid holiday, fixed date |
| 14 August | Saturday | Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi) | Expected. Some calendars show Sunday 15 August |
| 6 October | Wednesday | Armed Forces Day | Paid holiday, fixed date. Could move to a Thursday |
In 2027, Labour Day, Arafat Day, Revolution Day and the Prophet’s Birthday fall on a Friday or Saturday, when most offices are already closed. No substitute day is given unless the government announces one.
Next public holiday in Egypt
Coptic Christmas, Thursday 7 January 2027. It creates a long weekend for anyone on a Friday–Saturday week.
How many public holidays does Egypt have?
Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025, issued under the new Labour Law, lists 12 occasions as fully paid holidays for private-sector employees. Most are a single day. Eid al-Fitr covers the first two days of Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha covers Arafat Day plus the first two days of Eid, which brings the total to 15 days. These days can’t be deducted from an employee’s annual leave.
A few groups get more:
- Government employees often get longer Eid breaks by Prime Ministerial decision. Eid al-Adha in 2022, for example, was a full week off for the public sector.
- Christian employees get additional leave for their religious holidays, such as Coptic Easter, under a Prime Ministerial decree.
- Banks follow Central Bank of Egypt announcements, which add a closure on 1 January for the end of the banks’ financial year.
Why some Egypt holiday dates move
Two things change the dates in the table: the lunar calendar and Egypt’s habit of moving holidays to Thursday.
Lunar holidays. Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, according to calculations from Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. Eid al-Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid al-Adha, the Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday are only confirmed after the moon sighting at the start of each Hijri month, so a one-day shift is always possible.
Thursday shifts. When a holiday lands mid-week, the government often moves the day off to a Thursday to create a three-day weekend. Decree 294 lets the Minister of Labour swap a holiday to the start or end of the week for the private sector. In 2026, the day off moved to a Thursday three times:
- The Islamic New Year was observed on Thursday 18 June.
- The June 30 anniversary was observed on Thursday 2 July instead of Tuesday 30 June.
- Armed Forces Day was observed on Thursday 8 October instead of Tuesday 6 October.
Government offices, banks and the private sector each get a separate decision (from the Prime Minister, the Central Bank and the Minister of Labour), and they don’t always come out on the same day. In 2027, the mid-week dates to watch are 25 January (Monday), 30 June (Wednesday) and 6 October (Wednesday).
Is Friday a holiday in Egypt?
Yes. Friday is Egypt’s weekly day of rest, and government offices close on Friday. Banks and many government bodies also close on Saturday, giving them a Friday–Saturday weekend. Private-sector employers must give at least one paid weekly rest day of 24 consecutive hours. Most choose Friday, and many offices also take Saturday off. Shops, restaurants and tourism businesses usually stay open through the weekend.
Working on a public holiday in Egypt
Under Article 129 of Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 and Decree 294 of 2025, every official holiday is fully paid. An employer can still ask staff to work on one when the business requires it. In that case, the employee is entitled to:
- their regular wage for the day plus double that wage, or
- their regular wage plus a substitute day off instead of the extra pay, if they ask for it in writing. The request goes in their personnel file.
For payroll teams, that means tracking who worked each holiday and which option they chose. The Overtime Calculator helps estimate overtime costs around holiday periods, and the average salary in Egypt guide is useful for budgeting.
What each holiday marks
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are Egypt’s most important religious holidays and its longest breaks. Revolution Day on 23 July is the country’s National Day.
Coptic Christmas: 7 January
Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January. Families attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve and break the 43-day Nativity Fast the next day.
January 25 Revolution and National Police Day: 25 January
The date honours the Ismailia police who resisted British forces on 25 January 1952. It is also the anniversary of the 2011 revolution.
Eid al-Fitr: 10–11 March (expected)
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, with morning prayers, new clothes, family visits and kahk biscuits. Expect a spike in leave requests around it, so plan cover early.
Sinai Liberation Day: 25 April
This holiday marks Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula on 25 April 1982.
Labour Day: 1 May
Labour Day recognises Egypt’s workers. In 2027 it falls on a Saturday.
Coptic Easter and Sham El Nessim: 2–3 May [#sham-el-nessim]
Coptic Easter is a holiday for Christian employees. Sham El Nessim, the Monday after, is a spring festival dating back to ancient Egypt. Families spend the day outdoors with coloured eggs, green onions and feseekh (salted fish).
Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha: 15–17 May (expected)
Arafat Day is the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, and many Muslims fast. Eid al-Adha follows, marked by prayers and the sacrifice of an animal, with meat shared with family and people in need.
Islamic New Year: 6 June (expected)
1 Muharram 1449 marks the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is a quieter holiday.
June 30 Revolution Anniversary: 30 June
The holiday marks the mass protests of 30 June 2013. It falls on a Wednesday in 2027, so it may move to a Thursday.
Revolution Day: 23 July
Egypt’s National Day commemorates the 1952 revolution that ended the monarchy and led to the republic.
Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi): 14 August (expected)
Mawlid celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Streets fill with sugar dolls and sweets, and many mosques hold evening gatherings.
Armed Forces Day: 6 October
Armed Forces Day commemorates the crossing of the Suez Canal at the start of the October 1973 war.
HR checklist for Egypt’s 2027 holiday calendar
- Load all 15 paid days now, and mark the lunar dates as provisional.
- Coptic Christmas is a holiday for everyone. Set up Coptic Easter and other Christian religious holidays for Christian employees, in line with your leave policy.
- Plan Ramadan working hours from early February and Eid cover for March and May.
- Watch for Thursday-shift decisions about a week before 25 January, 30 June and 6 October, and tell staff the same day.
- Keep written records of anyone who works a holiday and whether they chose double pay or a substitute day.
- If you run teams across the Gulf, check the public holidays in the UAE 2027 and public holidays in Saudi Arabia 2027 too.
Keep Egypt’s holiday calendar in sync with Zimyo
Holiday shifts and moon-sighting changes are easy to miss when the calendar lives in a spreadsheet. Zimyo’s leave and attendance software lets HR teams:
- add every holiday by type and control which entities or employees it applies to
- set restricted holidays for days that only apply to some employees
- update a date once when an announcement comes out, and have it reflect for everyone
- send attendance and overtime straight to payroll, with no manual re-entry
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
How many public holidays are there in Egypt in 2027?
Private-sector employees get 15 paid days off in 2027, spread across 12 official occasions set by Ministerial Decree No. 294 of 2025. Eid al-Fitr counts for two days and Eid al-Adha for three, including Arafat Day. Christian employees also get leave for their religious holidays, such as Coptic Easter.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027 in Egypt?
Eid al-Fitr is expected on Wednesday 10 March 2027, based on astronomical calculations from Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. The official date is confirmed after the Shawwal moon sighting. Private-sector employees get the first two days of Eid as paid leave.
When is Eid al-Adha 2027 in Egypt?
Eid al-Adha is expected to start on Sunday 16 May 2027, with Arafat Day on Saturday 15 May. Both dates depend on the Dhu al-Hijjah moon sighting.
When does Ramadan 2027 start in Egypt?
Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027, according to astronomical calculations. Egypt announces the official start after the moon sighting the evening before.
Is Friday a holiday in Egypt?
Yes. Friday is Egypt’s weekly day of rest, and government offices close on Friday. Banks and many government bodies also close on Saturday. Private companies must give at least one paid weekly rest day, and most choose Friday.
Is 1 January a public holiday in Egypt?
No. 1 January is not on Egypt’s official holiday list, but banks close for the end of their financial year. The Central Bank of Egypt announces the closure each December.
What is an important holiday celebrated in Egypt, and when is it?
Eid al-Fitr is one of Egypt’s most important holidays. It marks the end of Ramadan and is expected on Wednesday 10 March 2027. Eid al-Adha, expected on 16 May 2027, is the other major religious holiday. Revolution Day on 23 July is Egypt’s National Day.
Is Coptic Easter a public holiday in Egypt?
Coptic Easter (Sunday 2 May 2027) is a holiday for Christian employees rather than a general public holiday. Sham El Nessim, the next day, is a paid holiday for everyone.
What happens if an employee works on a public holiday in Egypt?
An employer can require work on a public holiday when the business needs it. The employee then gets double the day’s wage on top of the regular wage for that day. If they request it in writing, they can take a substitute day off instead of the extra pay.
