Saudi public holidays and Eid leave for private sector workers

Private sector workers in Saudi Arabia get paid official holidays set by the Labour Law's implementing regulations and Ministry decisions.

The holidays

Eid dates follow the Islamic calendar, so they move about 11 days earlier each year. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announces the exact dates before each Eid. Some employers give more days than the minimum.

If you work on a holiday

Hours worked on Eid and other official holidays count as overtime. They are paid at your hourly wage plus 50% of your basic hourly wage, or, since 2025, replaced by paid time off if you agree in writing.

Example: wage SAR 9,000 and basic SAR 6,000, 8 hours a day. The hourly wage is SAR 37.50 and 50% of basic hourly is SAR 12.50, so each hour on a holiday is paid SAR 50. A full 8-hour day is SAR 400.

Holidays and annual leave

Official holidays are separate from your annual leave. They are not counted as part of your 21 or 30 days, and they are not counted in a probation period.

Read more in the Saudi annual leave guide and the Saudi overtime guide.

Sources

• Saudi Labour Law (Royal Decree M/51), as amended with effect from February 2025
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD)
• Qiwa

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