Eid Al-Adha 2026: Saudi Arabia Confirms Date, 4-Day Holiday for Private Sector
Saudi Arabia has announced the official date of the Day of Arafat and Eid Al-Adha, following the sighting of the crescent moon of Dhu’al-Hijjah.
The Kingdom’s Supreme Court announced that Monday, May 18, 2026, marks the first day of Dhu’al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar.
Consequently, the Day of Arafat will fall on Tuesday, May 26 (Dhu’al-Hijjah 9) and Eid Al-Adha will start on Wednesday, May 27 (Dhu’al-Hijjah 10).
On this occasion, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) announced a 4-day holiday for the private and non-profit sectors.
The holiday will commence on the Day of Arafat (May 26) and run through Friday, May 29.
موعد إجازة #عيد_الأضحى لهذا العام، للقطاعين الخاص وغير الربحي. pic.twitter.com/dzWQoibIHD
— وزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية (@HRSD_SA) May 17, 2026
Importantly, the Ministry urged employers to take into account the overlapping cases stipulated in Article 24 of the Executive Regulations of the Saudi Labor Law to ensure that the holiday is implemented in line with the applicable rules.
Eid Al-Adha is one of the holiest occasions in the Islamic calendar, observed through prayers, animal sacrifice and charity work, fostering community togetherness.
Moreover, Eid Al-Adha coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which draws millions of Muslims to the holy sites in Makkah during this sacred month.
