Public Holidays

What Are Public Holidays?

Public holidays are important religious or national occasions during which all employees in the public and private sectors are granted paid leave for the purpose of rest, spending time with family, and observing social and religious rituals. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these days are precisely defined in accordance with the Saudi Labor Law to ensure that all companies and institutions comply with granting employees their right to paid leave.

Why is it important to grant employees paid public holidays?

Paid public holidays are a cornerstone of any successful labor system. Their importance goes beyond a mere temporary break from work; they are linked to several psychological, social, and economic aspects that benefit both employees and employers alike, such as:

• Achieving a work-life balance: Public holidays in Saudi Arabia give employees the opportunity to enjoy their time outside of work, helping them spend time with family and friends and engage in personal, social, and religious activities that improve their quality of life, lead to greater psychological well-being, and reduce the likelihood of burnout in the long term.
• Increased job satisfaction: Public holidays provide a benefit through which employees feel appreciated and respected for being granted paid time off, which strengthens their sense of confidence and satisfaction with their work. This satisfaction directly impacts their performance and productivity, as they feel they are part of a work environment that values their efforts and understands their needs.
• Reducing Stress and Burnout: Constant stress in the workplace can lead to decreased performance and health issues; therefore, official holidays provide employees with time to relieve work-related stress and step away from their daily routine.
• Boosting Productivity: Short periods of rest and time off have a significant impact on employees’ ability to focus, be creative, and recharge. Employees return to work from official holidays with renewed energy, which increases their efficiency and productivity and helps improve the quality of their work while reducing errors.
• Strengthening Sense of Belonging and Organizational Identity: Public holidays give employees the opportunity to celebrate national and religious occasions, which fosters a sense of belonging to the organization and society and reflects the organization’s national, cultural, and Islamic identity. Furthermore, everyone’s participation in and celebration of these occasions strengthens internal bonds among employees and enhances cohesion.
• Improving the Organization’s Public Image: Celebrating public holidays reflects the organization’s commitment to societal and national values, which improves its public image. It positions the organization as a community-supporting institution and demonstrates its respect for societal norms and values.
• Compliance with Laws and Regulations: Granting employees public holidays ensures the organization’s compliance with local laws and labor regulations, which protects the organization from legal violations and potential penalties. This compliance also fosters a sense of fairness among employees and safeguards their rights.

What are the official holidays in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?

The schedule of public holidays in Saudi Arabia is determined based on important religious and national occasions. The dates of public holidays in Saudi Arabia are set in accordance with the Saudi Labor Law, specifically Article 112, and Article 24 of itsimplementing regulations, and are as follows:

Eid al-Fitr Holiday

The Eid al-Fitr holiday begins on the first day of the month of Shawwal, which is determined by the sighting of the new moon. The holiday lasts for four days and begins on the day following the 29th day of Ramadan if the new moon is sighted, or after 30 days if the new moon is not sighted. Work ceases in all government and private institutions, and employees are permitted to take their leave while continuing to receive their full salaries.

Eid al-Adha Holiday

The greatest festival in Islam, Eid al-Adha follows the conclusion of the Hajj rituals. The Eid al-Adha holiday begins on the Day of Arafat—the ninth day of Dhu al-Hijjah—and lasts for four days. This holiday is granted to employees to celebrate Eid al-Adha, exchange greetings, and visit family.

National Day Holiday

An official holiday celebrated on September 23 of each year. This occasion commemorates the unification of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1932. The government grants a one-day holiday on this national occasion to allow participation in celebratory events and to foster feelings of pride and belonging to the nation.

Foundation Day Holiday

Foundation Day is celebrated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on February 22 of each year. It commemorates the founding of the first Saudi state in 1727 and serves as an opportunity to reflect on the Kingdom’s rich history and honor its founders by granting employees a one-day holiday.

What Are the Rights of Workers in Saudi Arabia Regarding Public Holidays?

The Saudi labor system is committed to protecting workers’ rights and ensuring their well-being, particularly with regard to public holidays, which are an essential part of work-life balance. Workers are granted rights that ensure they can enjoy their holidays while receiving appropriate compensation if required to work during them. Workers’ rights regarding public holidays can be summarized as follows:

• All employees in the public and private sectors are entitled to paid leave during public holidays, in accordance with Article 112 of the Labor Law, which states that “every worker has the right to leave with full pay on holidays and special occasions.”This applies to employees with fixed-term or indefinite-term employment contracts, as well as seasonal, temporary, and casual employment contracts, pursuant to Article 6 of the Saudi Labor Law. “The provisions regarding duties and disciplinary rules, maximum working hours, daily and weekly rest periods, overtime, public holidays, occupational safety and health rules, work-related injuries and compensation therefor, and whatever else the Minister may determine, shall apply to casual, seasonal, and temporary workers.”
• If circumstances require that certain employees work during holidays, they must be notified in advance and ensured compensation without any deduction from their leave balance, According to Article 107 of the Labor Law, work on public holidays is considered overtime and must be compensated with pay equal to the approved hourly wage plus 50% of the base salary, and in accordance with the latest amendment to the article, the employer may, with the employee’s consent, grant paid compensatory leave in lieu of overtime pay.
• If public holidays overlap with annual, sick, or weekly leave, the employee is entitled to compensation as follows:
  • The employee shall be compensated for the overlap of public holidays with weekly rest days with an equivalent number of days before or after those holidays.
  • Annual leave shall be extended by the number of days that overlap with public holidays.
  • The employee is entitled to full pay for public holidays that overlap with sick leave, regardless of the pay due for the sick days.
  • If National Day coincides with the Eid holidays, the employee shall not be compensated for it.
  • The official holidays for Eid al-Adha are included in the calculation of days off for performing the Hajj pilgrimage pursuant to Article 114 of the Labor Law.

What is the difference between annual leave and public holidays?

Annual leave is time off that an employee receives based on their length of service and is deducted from their leave balance, whereas public holidays are additional days off that are not deducted from the leave balance. According to the Saudi Labor Law, an employee is entitled to annual leave of no less than 21 days, which increases to 30 days if the employee has been in the employer’s service for five consecutive years. In contrast, public holidays are specific days on which an employee is granted time off without affecting their annual leave balance.