Save the dates: Here are all the public holidays in Saudi Arabia in 2025
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A new year means a reset on all the holidays we love, including Saudi Founding Day, Flag Day, among others. And the good news for us all? The 2024 calendar offers several public holidays that, when combined with weekends, create a golden opportunity to turn brief breaks into full-blown relaxation getaways. These are all the public holidays in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
February 22: Saudi Founding Day
The decision to commemorate Saudi Founding Day on February 22 dates back three centuries, during the leadership of Imam Muhammad bin Saud when he founded the first Saudi state in 1727 and established a political entity that achieved unity, stability, and prosperity. On that day, Diriyah became the capital of the first Saudi State.
Ancestors of the Saudi royal family first settled alongside Wadi Hanifah in the 15th century, founding the city of Diriyah in 1446. But it was the determination of Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727 to oversee the expansion of Diriyah from a city-state to a nation-state, conquering territories in central Arabia and uniting them under his family’s rule. Although Founding Day this year falls on a Saturday, it is expected that either Thursday (February 20) or Sunday (February 23) will be off making it a long weekend.
Tuesday March 11: National Flag Day
Wave your flags, and wave them high. In early 2023, it was decreed by the King that the day would be celebrated in honour of the former King Abdulaziz endorsing the flag on March 11, 1937. The day will be celebrating the flag as a symbol of monotheism, justice, strength, development and prosperity. This year, the day will fall on a Tuesday, so no long weekends, but a day off is a day off, are we right?
TBC March: Eid Al-Fitr
Eid Al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal and the end of the month-long Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during daylight hours. This year, it’s expected to fall either on Saturday March 29 or Sunday March 30. The official holidays are normally four days long, although the exact dates for Eid Al-Fitr depend on the moon’s sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
TBC June: Eid Al-Adha
Eid Al-Adha lasts three days and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. It is usually observed from Dhul-Hijjah 10 to 12 of the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is likely to correspond to either Thursday June 5 or Friday June 6 on the Gregorian calendar. But like Eid Al-Fitr, the exact dates for Eid Al-Adha depend on the moon’s sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
Tuesday September 23: National Day
Last but not least, here’s the last of the 2024 public holidays in the Kingdom – the Saudi National Day, which is marked annually on September 23. The holiday commemorates the establishment of Saudi Arabia by King Abdulaziz in 1932. It falls on a Tuesday this year, so there is no long weekend there. But you can look forward to fireworks, parades packed with floats showcasing the highlights of each region, music and traditional outfits, and Saudi flags lining the streets.
Stay tuned to whatsonsaudiarabia.com for the official announcements.
For official leave details: hrsd.gov.sa