Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, led by King Salman, has approved a significant update to the Eid holiday provisions under the Labour Law for government authorities, institutions, commissions, centres, programmes, and similar bodies governed by their own labour regulations. The revised directive mandates that both the Eid‑al‑Fitr and Eid‑al‑Adha breaks must now last a minimum of four working days and may extend up to five days
This change seeks to standardise holiday duration across public-sector entities subject to the Labour Law’s executive regulations, particularly Article 24, paragraph 2. Previously, Eid leave varied significantly from one agency to another. Under the new rules, employees are guaranteed at least four days off, with the possibility of a fifth day, thereby striking a balance between festivity and continuity of essential services
Although private and non-profit sectors already enjoy a four-day Eid break—such as the March 30–April 2, 2025 Al‑Fitr holiday and the June 5–June 8, 2025 Al‑Adha period—the new ruling ensures that certain government entities catch up to this standard, preventing discrepancies in holiday observance
The Cabinet decision, announced via Saudi Press Agency, underlines the Kingdom’s commitment to harmonising labour policies across its administrative landscape. While the public sector now has clearly defined Eid leave parameters, the update does not affect organisations operating under the civil service law, who continue to observe their existing holiday schedules
By implementing these measures, Saudi Arabia aims to promote equitable holiday entitlements, uphold social values during major religious festivities, and maintain operational efficiency within public institutions. Government employees subject to Labour Law guidelines can now plan for a guaranteed four‑ to five‑day reprieve during Eid celebrations.
