Saudi Arabia Hotels & Resorts |
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Travel Tips
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Holidays
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Fixed Public Holidays
| 24 September |
Unification of the Kingdom |
(This may not be an official holiday).
Moveable Public Holidays
Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha are the only official holidays. Work schedules may be seriously disrupted during the month of Ramadan and businesses may commonly take time off for other Islamic holidays.
Holidays |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
| Festival of Sacrifice (Eid Al Adha)¹ |
February 12 |
February 2 |
January 21 |
| Islamic New Year² |
March 5 |
February 22 |
February 10 |
| Birthday of Prophet Mohammad (Mawlid an Nabi)³ |
May 14 |
May 2 |
April 21 |
| Start of Ramadan*¹ |
October 27 |
October 15 |
October 4 |
| End of Ramadan (Eid Al Fitr)*² |
November 26 |
November 14 |
November 3 |
| ¹ |
Culmination of the Haj or Holy Pilgrimage. |
| ² |
The lunar Islamic Hijra calendar is made up of 12 months, each month alternating between 29 and 30 days per month, culminating in a total of 354 days per year. The Hijra calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and annually moves 11 days backward through the seasons. |
| ³ |
The Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad is celebrated on the twelfth day in the month of Rabi'l of the Islamic calendar. |
| *¹ |
Ramadan (the month of fasting) begins with the first appearance of the new moon in the ninth month of the lunar Islamic Hijra calendar, and lasts 30 days. Dates for the start of Ramadan will vary from country to country, depending on the first appearance of the moon. |
| *² |
Feasting that officially marks the end of Ramadan, and commonly lasts for 3 days. |
Weekend
Friday
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