Saudi Arabia Revises Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha Public Holiday Policy

For contract-based employees, the new limits of four to five days will also apply.

By DTD- On Jul 13, 2025

Riyadh — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially revised its public holiday policy for the Islamic festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, according to a notification published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura.

The Saudi cabinet has approved amendments to the earlier decision regarding the number of days allowed for public holidays during the Eid celebrations. Under the new policy, public holidays for both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha will now range from a minimum of four to a maximum of five working days.

This change applies specifically to employees working under the Civil Service Law and government entities that follow the Civil Service system. However, it does not extend to individuals working in ministries or departments that are governed under separate contractual frameworks, such as those operating under the Efficiency Enhancement Programme or similar regulations.

For contract-based employees, the new limits of four to five days will also apply. The notification further clarifies that institutional heads have the authority to convert any public holiday period that exceeds five days into remote work, based on operational requirements.

It is important to note that the actual dates and length of holidays will still be subject to confirmation based on Islamic calendar dates and prevailing circumstances at the time of each festival.

This move is seen as part of ongoing reforms aimed at balancing public service efficiency with religious and cultural observance in the Kingdom.