Holiday planning
Long Weekends in Saudi Arabia 2026
Saudi Arabia has 3 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 6 days around Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) & Eid Al-Adha Day 1 & Eid Al-Adha Day 2 & Eid Al-Adha Day 3 (Tue 26 May – Sun 31 May). Take Monday off and turn the Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) & Eid Al-Adha Day 1 & Eid Al-Adha Day 2 & Eid Al-Adha Day 3 break into a 9-day run.
3
Long weekends
9
Longest break (days)
3
Bridge day opportunities
All long weekends in Saudi Arabia 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 18 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Eid Al-Fitr Holiday (Eve), Eid Al-Fitr Day 1, Eid Al-Fitr Day 2, Eid Al-Fitr Day 3 | 4 | Wednesday(Wed 18 Mar) | 5d |
| Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May | Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve), Eid Al-Adha Day 1, Eid Al-Adha Day 2, Eid Al-Adha Day 3 | 6 | Monday(Mon 25 May) | 9d |
| Sat 19 Sept – Wed 23 Sept | Saudi National Day | 1 | Monday + Tuesday(Mon 21 Sept, Tue 22 Sept) | 5d |
Best long weekends in Saudi Arabia 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
May
Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) & Eid Al-Adha Day 1 & Eid Al-Adha Day 2 & Eid Al-Adha Day 3
Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May
9
days
March
Eid Al-Fitr Holiday (Eve) & Eid Al-Fitr Day 1 & Eid Al-Fitr Day 2 & Eid Al-Fitr Day 3
Wed 18 Mar – Sun 22 Mar
5
days
September
Saudi National Day
Sat 19 Sept – Wed 23 Sept
5
days
How to use bridge days in Saudi Arabia
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In Saudi Arabia 2026, there are 3 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) & Eid Al-Adha Day 1 & Eid Al-Adha Day 2 & Eid Al-Adha Day 3: take Monday off to turn a 6-day break into 9 consecutive days using only 1 day of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Continue exploring
More for Saudi Arabia 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in Saudi Arabia 2026
Full list of 10 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in Saudi Arabia 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in Saudi Arabia 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
Country overview
Saudi Arabia holidays overview
All years at a glance — upcoming public holidays.
Calculator
Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Saudi Arabia have in 2026?
Saudi Arabia has 3 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in Saudi Arabia in 2026?
The longest break is 9 days from Saturday, 23 May 2026 to Sunday, 31 May 2026, centred around Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) and Eid Al-Adha Day 1 and Eid Al-Adha Day 2 and Eid Al-Adha Day 3 (taking Monday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in Saudi Arabia 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Arafat (Eid Al-Adha Eve) & Eid Al-Adha Day 1 & Eid Al-Adha Day 2 & Eid Al-Adha Day 3 (Tue 26 May – Sun 31 May). Take Monday as annual leave to get a 9-day break using only 1 day of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in Saudi Arabia?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.