Understanding Saudi Arabia Holidays 2025
Holiday Culture in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia celebrates purely Islamic holidays as birthplace of Islam and home to Mecca and Medina. No secular holidays or non-Islamic observances. The Gregorian calendar is used alongside Hijri calendar. Weekend is Friday-Saturday (Islamic tradition). Kingdom Day recent addition celebrating national unity.
Major Holidays & Celebrations
Eid ul-Fitr(Varies (end of Ramadan))
Significance: Most important holiday celebrating end of Ramadan fast. Four-day official holiday but celebrations extend. Mecca and Medina especially significant. Major shopping, gifting, and family time.
Traditions: Morning prayers at mosques, wearing new clothes (often traditional thobe/abaya), exchanging gifts and money, visiting relatives, and charitable giving (Zakat al-Fitr).
Traditional Foods: Dates, Arabic coffee, kabsa (spiced rice with meat), harees, luqaimat, kunafa, and elaborate feasts mixing Saudi and international cuisine.
Business Impact: Four-day official holiday. Major shopping before Eid. Malls packed. Many expats travel home. Business completely stops. Eid flights expensive and booked early.
Eid ul-Adha(Varies (during Hajj))
Significance: Festival of Sacrifice coinciding with Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Holiest time in Saudi Arabia as millions perform Hajj. Four-day official holiday. Animal sacrifice mandatory for those who can afford it.
Traditions: Animal sacrifice (sheep, goat, camel), distributing meat to family and poor, Hajj pilgrimage (once in lifetime obligation), prayers, and family gatherings.
Traditional Foods: Meat dishes central given sacrifice. Kabsa, mandi, mathbi, and lamb-focused meals.
Business Impact: Four-day official holiday. Hajj season means Mecca/Medina overwhelmed with pilgrims. Transportation challenges. Business stops completely. Many Saudis vacation abroad after Eid.
Saudi National Day (Al-Yaom-ul-Watany)(September 23)
Significance: Commemorates 1932 unification of Kingdom by King Abdulaziz Al Saud. Recent increase in celebration shows Saudi nationalism rising. Green decorations (Saudi flag color) everywhere.
Traditions: Fireworks, concerts, Saudi flag displays, traditional dances (Ardah sword dance), car parades, and patriotic celebrations. Growing commercialization.
Traditional Foods: Traditional Saudi dishes like kabsa, jareesh, dates, and Arabic coffee. Not food-focused but celebratory meals.
Business Impact: Official holiday since 2005. Major celebrations especially in Riyadh and Jeddah. Shows Saudi pride and Vision 2030 modernization. Tourism and entertainment sectors thrive.
Ramadan(Varies (9th Islamic month))
Significance: Holiest month, not holiday itself but shapes entire month. Fasting dawn to sunset, increased prayer, charity. Non-Muslims must respect fasting - no eating/drinking in public. Business hours drastically reduced. Nightlife vibrant after iftar.
Traditions: Fasting (sawm), five daily prayers (emphasized), Quran reading, charity, Taraweeh prayers, iftar meals, and spiritual reflection.
Traditional Foods: Iftar meals with dates, laban, soups, samosas, then full meals. Hotels offer lavish iftar buffets. Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) before fasting resumes.
Business Impact: Month-long productivity drop. Work hours: 9 AM-3 PM typically. Everything closes during day. Evenings shift - shopping until 2 AM common. Major business delayed until after Ramadan. Schedule around it or accept slow pace.
Holiday Pattern & Statistics
Saudi Arabia observes only Islamic holidays - no Christian, secular, or other celebrations. Weekend is Friday-Saturday. During Ramadan, work reduced to 6 hours daily. Public religious observance is mandatory - prayer times strictly observed with businesses closing 20-30 minutes five times daily.
Business Travel & Coordination
Avoid Ramadan (business extremely slow, summer heat often coincides). Eid holidays mean 4-day closures. Hajj season (Dhu al-Hijjah month) disrupts Mecca/Jeddah travel. Best business periods: October-April (avoiding Ramadan/Eid). Saudi business culture is formal and relationship-based. Dress conservatively - long sleeves, no shorts. Women must wear abaya in public (loosening under reforms). No alcohol anywhere. Gender segregation in restaurants/public spaces (easing). Patience essential - decisions take time. Respect prayer times - everything stops. Arabic coffee ceremony shows hospitality. Hierarchy matters - respect age and position.
Cultural Traditions & Insights
Saudi culture is deeply Islamic and tribal. Wahhabi interpretation influences social norms. Family and tribe loyalty is paramount. Honor and reputation (face) crucial. Hospitality is sacred duty. Gender segregation traditional (Vision 2030 reforms slowly changing). No cinemas until 2018, women driving allowed only since 2018 - rapid modernization under Crown Prince MBS. Oil wealth created modern infrastructure amid traditional values. Mecca/Medina as Islam's holiest sites gives Saudi Arabia unique religious authority. Desert heritage influences Bedouin traditions. Falconry, camel racing remain popular despite modernization.
Timezone Coordination Tips
Saudi Arabia uses AST (UTC+3) year-round with no DST. This puts Saudi Arabia 7-8 hours ahead of US East Coast. When coordinating meetings, afternoon Saudi time (2-5 PM) works for morning US East Coast (6-9 AM). The Friday-Saturday weekend means Sunday-Thursday work week. Business hours typically 8 AM-5 PM but during Ramadan shortened to 9 AM-3 PM. Prayer times (five daily) mean 20-30 minute closures - factor into scheduling. Thursday afternoons see early finishes before weekend.
Why Check Saudi Arabia Public Holidays?
- Plan business meetings and avoid scheduling conflicts during bank closures
- Coordinate with remote teams and international colleagues across time zones
- Book travel and accommodations around peak holiday periods for better rates
- Respect cultural and religious observances important to local communities
- Optimize project timelines and deadlines accounting for reduced business days
- Anticipate supply chain and logistics disruptions during major holidays
Frequently Asked Questions
Stay Perfectly Synchronized
Our holiday calendar for Saudi Arabia is regularly updated to ensure accuracy. Use this information alongside our Saudi Arabia timezone tools and meeting planner to coordinate seamlessly with Saudi Arabia and stay perfectly synchronized with local schedules.