Eid Holiday Schedule
Saudi Arabia has officially revised its public holiday policy for the upcoming Eid celebrations, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, marking a significant change in the way holidays will be observed across government sectors.
The amendment, published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura, was approved by the Saudi cabinet and introduces a new framework regarding the duration of public holidays during these important religious occasions.
According to the updated policy, the official holiday period for both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha will now range between a minimum of four working days and a maximum of five working days. This change specifically applies to employees working under the Civil Service Law as well as those employed in government entities that follow the Civil Service system.
The revision aims to standardize the holiday duration while providing some flexibility to institutions and employees.
However, the amendment clarifies that the previous provisions governing public holidays will no longer be applicable to employees of government entities operating under the Civil Service system, with certain exceptions.
These exceptions include employees whose contracts are governed by specific regulations related to the functions of ministries and assistant ministries. Additionally, those who fall under the structured rules of the Efficiency Enhancement Programme are also excluded from the revised holiday provisions.
For individuals employed on a contract basis, the public holiday limits as outlined in the first clause of the decision will be applicable. Importantly, the heads of institutions are granted the authority to convert any holiday period exceeding five days into remote work or work-from-home arrangements as deemed necessary. This provision ensures that operational continuity can be maintained while respecting the holiday framework.
It is also important to note that the official public holidays in Saudi Arabia for both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha are announced based on the prevailing circumstances at the time of the celebrations. This means that the exact number of holiday days may vary depending on factors such as moon sightings and government assessments.
The revision of the Eid holiday policy reflects Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to balance cultural and religious observances with the practical needs of its workforce and government operations.
By providing a flexible yet structured approach to holiday duration, the new policy seeks to accommodate employees’ need for rest and celebration while ensuring that essential government functions continue smoothly. This update has been welcomed by many as a clear and pragmatic step toward modernizing public holiday practices in the Kingdom.
