Saudi Arabia has four official public holidays in 2027: Founding Day on 22 February, Eid al-Fitr (expected 9–12 March for the private sector), Eid al-Adha (expected 15–18 May, starting on Arafat Day) and Saudi National Day on 23 September. Private-sector employees get four paid days off for each Eid under the Saudi Labour Law, which adds up to 10 paid holiday days in the year.
Saudi Flag Day (11 March) is a national observance, not a day off. In 2027 it falls inside the Eid al-Fitr break anyway.
Eid dates follow the Umm al-Qura calendar and are confirmed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) shortly before each holiday. We update this page as soon as the official announcements are made.
Saudi Arabia Public Holidays 2027 at a Glance
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb | Mon | Founding Day |
| 9 Mar | Tue | Eid al-Fitr |
| 10 Mar | Wed | Eid al-Fitr Holiday |
| 11 Mar | Thu | Eid al-Fitr Holiday |
| 12 Mar | Fri | Eid al-Fitr Holiday |
| 15 May | Sat | Arafat Day (Eid al-Adha Holiday) |
| 16 May | Sun | Eid al-Adha |
| 17 May | Mon | Eid al-Adha Holiday |
| 18 May | Tue | Eid al-Adha Holiday |
| 23 Sep | Thu | Saudi National Day |
Eid dates are estimates based on the Umm al-Qura calendar and the private-sector rules in the Saudi Labour Law. We will update this table once MHRSD announces the official 2027 holiday dates.
Two other dates matter for planning but are not paid holidays: Ramadan 1448 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, bringing reduced working hours, and Flag Day falls on Thursday 11 March, inside the Eid al-Fitr break.
How Saudi Holiday Dates Are Set
Saudi public holidays come from two calendars. Founding Day and National Day are fixed Gregorian dates. The two Eids follow the Hijri calendar, so they move about 11 days earlier each year.
The Labour Law regulations set clear start points for the private sector:
- Eid al-Fitr: four days, starting the day after 29 Ramadan on the Umm al-Qura calendar.
- Eid al-Adha: four days, starting on Arafat Day (9 Dhu al-Hijjah).
- National Day and Founding Day: one day each. If either falls on a weekend, employees get the day before or after instead.
- Overlaps: if National Day or Founding Day falls within an Eid break, no extra day is given.
In 2027, both Founding Day (Monday) and National Day (Thursday) fall on weekdays, so no substitute days are needed.
Saudi Arabia Holidays 2027 in Detail
Founding Day: Monday, 22 February 2027
Founding Day marks the establishment of the first Saudi state by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727. It was created by royal order in 2022 and is separate from National Day, which celebrates the unification of the modern Kingdom in 1932.
2027 marks 300 years since 1727, so public celebrations may be larger than usual. Businesses with customer-facing teams in retail, hospitality and events should plan staffing for the surrounding weekend.
Eid al-Fitr: Expected Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March 2027
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. On the Umm al-Qura calendar, 29 Ramadan 1448 falls on Monday 8 March 2027, so the private-sector break is expected to begin after work that day and run for four days. MHRSD usually confirms the exact dates a few weeks before Eid.
Flag Day (11 March) falls inside this break in 2027, so it has no separate effect on working days.
What HR teams should plan for:
- Ramadan working hours from around 8 February: Muslim employees in the private sector work a maximum of six hours a day and 36 hours a week.
- Run March payroll and WPS salary files before banks close. SAMA's financial-sector Eid break runs from 7 to 11 March 2027.
- Confirm cover for essential operations and how holiday work will be compensated.
Eid al-Adha: Expected Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May 2027
Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage. Arafat Day is expected on Saturday 15 May 2027 and Eid on Sunday 16 May. The private-sector holiday starts on Arafat Day and runs four days.
Banks and financial institutions close from 16 to 20 May 2027 under SAMA's schedule, so plan any mid-May payments and payroll adjustments around that window. Businesses in Makkah and Madinah, travel and logistics should expect peak Hajj demand in the days before Eid.
Saudi National Day: Thursday, 23 September 2027
National Day celebrates the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz on 23 September 1932. It has been marked since 1965 and became an official public holiday in 2005. 2027 is the 97th National Day.
Because it falls on a Thursday in 2027, most companies on a Sunday-to-Thursday week get a three-day weekend. Expect fireworks, concerts and green-lit landmarks across Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
Observances That Are Not Days Off
Saudi Flag Day (11 March) was introduced by royal order in March 2023. It commemorates King Abdulaziz's approval of the flag's design on 11 March 1937. Flags are raised across schools and government buildings, but it is not a paid holiday unless the government announces otherwise.
Start of Ramadan (around 8 February 2027) is not a holiday, but it changes working hours for the whole month and affects attendance tracking and overtime.
Private Sector vs. Government vs. Banks: 2027 Eid Breaks
| Sector | Rule | Eid al-Fitr 2027 | Eid al-Adha 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private and non-profit | 4 days per Eid (Labour Law) | 9–12 March (expected) | 15–18 May (expected) |
| Government (Civil Service) | 4–5 working days per Eid (Cabinet decision) | Announced separately | Announced separately |
| Banks and financial institutions | SAMA schedule | 7–11 March | 16–20 May |
Private employers can give more than the legal minimum, but not less. National Day and Founding Day apply to all sectors.
2027 Holiday Checklist for HR and Payroll Teams
- Load all four holidays into your leave calendar now, with both Eids marked provisional.
- Set Ramadan working hours from early February and update shift rosters.
- Move March and May payroll cut-offs ahead of the Eid breaks and SAMA closures.
- Decide who covers essential operations on each holiday and how that work is paid.
- Share the confirmed dates with employees as soon as MHRSD announces them.
An HR platform that handles this in one place saves a lot of manual work. Zimyo's HR software and payroll software for Saudi Arabia cover leave and attendance, GOSI contributions and WPS salary files, with an Arabic interface for your team.
Saudi Arabia Public Holidays 2026 (For Reference)
| Holiday | 2026 date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Founding Day | 22 February | Sunday |
| Eid al-Fitr | Four days from the end of work on 18 March | Thursday onwards |
| Eid al-Adha | 26–29 May | Tuesday–Friday |
| Saudi National Day | 23 September | Wednesday |
Plan Your 2027 Holiday Calendar with Zimyo
Holidays in Saudi Arabia are predictable in pattern but not in exact dates, which is why Eid planning often ends in last-minute payroll changes. Zimyo brings leave, attendance, GOSI and WPS payroll into one Arabic-ready platform, so your 2027 calendar, rosters and salary runs stay in sync. Book a demo to see how it works for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in Saudi Arabia in 2027?
Saudi Arabia has four official public holidays in 2027: Founding Day (22 February), Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and National Day (23 September). Private-sector employees get four days for each Eid and one day each for Founding Day and National Day, for a total of 10 paid days.
When is the Eid al-Fitr 2027 holiday for the private sector?
The private-sector Eid al-Fitr break is expected to run from Tuesday 9 March to Friday 12 March 2027, starting the day after 29 Ramadan on the Umm al-Qura calendar. MHRSD confirms the final dates shortly before Eid.
When is the Eid al-Adha 2027 holiday in Saudi Arabia?
The private-sector Eid al-Adha holiday is expected to run from Saturday 15 May to Tuesday 18 May 2027, starting on Arafat Day. Banks close from 16 to 20 May under SAMA's schedule.
Is Saudi Flag Day a public holiday?
No. Flag Day on 11 March is an official national observance created by royal order in 2023, but it is not a paid day off. In 2027 it falls within the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
What happens if Founding Day or National Day falls on a weekend?
Employees get the working day before or after instead. In 2027 both fall on weekdays (Monday and Thursday), so no substitute day is needed.
Do government employees get longer Eid holidays than the private sector?
Government employees under the Civil Service system get between four and five working days for each Eid, while private-sector employees get four days. The government schedule is announced separately each year.
What are working hours during Ramadan 2027 in Saudi Arabia?
Under the Saudi Labour Law, Muslim employees in the private sector work a maximum of six hours a day and 36 hours a week during Ramadan, which is expected to start around 8 February 2027.
