Riyadh, September 19, 2026: The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has officially declared Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as a paid holiday for the private and non-profit sectors in honor of the 96th Saudi National Day.
- Official paid holiday for private and non-profit sectors on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
- Applies to all expatriate employees including Indian workers and professionals.
- Overtime rules and annual leave extensions apply under Saudi Labour Law.
- Embassy closures and Saudi Exchange trading suspension scheduled.
Under Article 24 of the implementing regulations of the Saudi Labour Law, this mandate applies to all expatriate employees, including Indian workers, technicians, engineers, sales staff, office employees, and service-sector workers.
Employers are prohibited from arbitrarily cancelling this holiday. Per Article 107 of the Saudi Labour Law, any work performed during an official public holiday must be compensated as overtime. Employees working on this day are entitled to their standard hourly wage plus an additional 50 percent of their basic wage, or they may receive paid compensatory leave, provided the employee consents. For those on annual leave, the law mandates that if an official holiday like the National Day falls within the leave period, the annual leave balance must be extended by the corresponding number of holiday days. The holiday is limited to one day (Wednesday, September 23). Employees in cities including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam should not assume an automatic long weekend, as Thursday, September 24, remains a standard working day unless otherwise specified by company policy.
Indian nationals are advised to maintain records of shift rosters, employment contracts, and HR communications to resolve any potential salary or compensation disputes.Operational closures are also scheduled for September 23.
The Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah will remain closed in observance of the Saudi National Day. Consequently, all consular services, including passport renewals and document attestations, will be suspended. Individuals with urgent deadlines are encouraged to verify availability before or after the holiday. Additionally, the Saudi Exchange will suspend trading on September 23, with operations concluding on Tuesday, September 22, and resuming on Thursday, September 24.
