Spending Ramadan in Riyadh? Here are the changes to know about
Here’s how daily life shifts during the Holy Month
Ramadan has begun, and with it come a number of changes across Riyadh. Here’s your guide to what shifts during the Holy Month. These are the changes in Riyadh for Ramadan 2026.
Work timings
According to Saudi News 50, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has officially confirmed that working hours in Ramadan for the private sector should not exceed six hours. In previous years, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has introduced flexible working hours for Saudi employees and those who are fasting during Ramadan. However, Ramadan working hours for the private sector may also depend on the management of private companies. Read more here.
Public transport
To ensure transportation during the holy month is as seamless as ever, the public transport network will undergo adjustments covering all days of the week, including Fridays, allowing citizens and residents to better utilise Riyadh’s train and bus services, as well as on-demand buses, during the holy month. You can find the updated timings here.
Riyadh Metro operating hours during Ramadan
- From Sunday to Thursday, operating hours start at 8am and end at 2.30am
- Working hours on Friday will start at 11am and continue until 3am
- On Saturday, working hours will be from 11am until 2.30am
Riyadh buses
- All week from 6.30am until 3am.
Buses on demand
- From Sunday to Thursday, from 7.30am until 3am
- Friday from 10.30am until 3.30am
- And on Saturday from 10.30am until 3am
Mall timings
If you’re going shopping in the near future, you should know that during Ramadan, mall timings in Riyadh tend to change. Malls shift to more relaxed hours during the holy month, often closing and reopening throughout the day to account for suhoor and iftar. Here are the opening times for Riyadh malls in Ramadan.
Paid parking
As part of the changes in Riyadh for Ramadan 2026, timings for the paid parking during the day will now be split into two periods as per the below:
First period: 10am to 5pm
Second period: 9pm to 4am
Restaurants and cafes aren’t open during the day
If you’re not fasting, you should know that restaurants and cafes in Riyadh are usually not open during the day. Though you can check apps like Hungerstation, Keeta, and Jahez to see if you can order in instead.
Six Flags Qiddiya time
The iconic park will remain open during Ramadan on specific days through February and March. Six Flags Qiddiya City Ramadan days and hours for when you have regular tickets are 9pm to 2am, and when you have iftar tickets, you can enter from 5.30pm to 2am.
In February, park days are as follows:
- The park will remain open until February 17 and will be closed from February 18 to February 21. It will then reopen on February 22 under the new Ramadan hours.
- In the month of March, the park will be open from March 1 to March 9. It will then be closed from March 10 to March 19 and reopen on March 21. Currently the post-Ramadan opening hours have not been announced.
