Save the dates: Here are all the Saudi public holidays in 2024
Make the most out of them…
As we welcome the New Year, the prospect of new adventures beckons. And good news for residents in the Kingdom: the 2024 calendar offers several public holidays that, when combined with weekends, create a golden opportunity to turn brief respites into mini holidays.
Here are the dates for all the Saudi public holidays you need for your 2024 calendar.
February 22: Saudi Foundation Day
Foundation Day is an official public holiday in Saudi Arabia on February 22 each year. The holiday was created in 2022 to commemorate the foundation of the First Saudi State in 1727 by Imam Muhammad bin Saud. This year, the Saudi Foundation Day falls on a Thursday, setting the stage for the first long weekend of the year with a three-day holiday.
March 11: National Flag Day
Flag Day will be celebrated in Saudi Arabia on Monday March 11, 2024. It is a new national holiday instituted by the Royal Decree of Saudi Arabia last year. This day holds the utmost importance in the history of Saudi Arabia as its flag was approved on March 11, 1937, by Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The green Saudi flag features an inscription above the sword, which states the ‘shahada’, or the profession of Muslim faith.
April: 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 Tuesday April 9 or Wednesday April 10. The official holidays are four days long, so either way, it’ll be a long break extending into the weekend. The exact dates for Eid Al-Fitr depend on the moon’s sighting and will be confirmed closer to the time.
However, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced that both the public and private sector will enjoy a four-day break from Monday April 8. The public holiday will conclude on Thursday April 11, but for most people who enjoy a Friday-Saturday weekend in the Kingdom, that will mean a full six days off.
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 from Sunday June 16, 2024 to Tuesday June 18, 2024. If so, this year’s Eid Al-Adha will turn the preceding weekend into part of a long weekend holiday. 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.
September 23: Saudi 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 Monday this year, so there is no long weekend there (unless you decide to take Sunday off). 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.
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