Is Christmas a public holiday in Saudi Arabia? No. December 25 is not a public holiday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — it is a regular working day for government offices, banks, schools, and private businesses. Saudi Arabia’s official holidays are set around the Islamic calendar and a small number of national observances, and Christmas does not appear among them. If you are doing business with the Kingdom or planning a visit in late December, expect everything to operate on a normal schedule.
Saudi Arabia’s Actual Public Holidays in 2026
For reference, the Kingdom’s confirmed public holidays for 2026 are: Founding Day on February 22; Eid al-Fitr (expected March 20–22, subject to moon sighting); Arafat Day (expected May 26); Eid al-Adha (expected May 27–29); Islamic New Year (expected June 16); and Saudi National Day on September 23. That is the complete national list — ten days in total, and none of them falls in December. The Eid dates and other lunar observances are announced officially based on moon sighting, so consider them expected until confirmed by the authorities.
Compared with some neighboring Gulf states, Saudi Arabia’s list is deliberately compact. The Kingdom does not observe the Gregorian New Year as a holiday either — January 1 is a normal working day — which underlines how fully the official calendar is anchored in the Hijri calendar and national history.
The Kingdom’s Holiday Calendar Explained
Saudi Arabia’s public holidays fall into two groups. The first is religious: the two Eids, Arafat Day (the centerpiece of the Hajj pilgrimage), and the Islamic New Year. These follow the lunar Hijri calendar, which is about eleven days shorter than the Gregorian year, so their Gregorian dates move earlier each year. The second group is national: Founding Day, which commemorates the establishment of the first Saudi state in 1727, and National Day on September 23, marking the unification of the Kingdom in 1932.
Christmas fits into neither group. As a Christian festival, it has no place in the Islamic religious calendar, and it carries no Saudi national significance. This is a straightforward reflection of the country’s identity as the birthplace of Islam and custodian of its holiest sites.
What Visitors Should Know
If you are traveling to Saudi Arabia in December, a few practical notes will help. First, do not expect any Christmas atmosphere in public spaces — the Kingdom does not permit public non-Islamic religious displays, so there are no decorated trees in malls or Christmas markets. Second, business continues uninterrupted: schedule meetings and administrative tasks normally. Third, December’s mild weather actually makes it one of the most pleasant months to visit, especially for destinations like AlUla, Jeddah, and Riyadh.
Expatriate residents who celebrate Christmas typically do so privately, in their homes or within compounds, and take annual leave if they want the day itself free. Employers are accustomed to such requests. The key takeaway is simple: in Saudi Arabia, December 25 is just another workday on the calendar. Plan accordingly, confirm any time-sensitive arrangements directly with the relevant office, and enjoy the Kingdom’s own rich calendar of observances — from the festivities of Eid to the patriotic energy of National Day — on their actual dates.