The UAE changed its weekend in 2022. Saudi Arabia changed its in 2013. Most GCC public holidays are lunar-based and shift 11 days earlier each year. If you are counting business days for a project deadline, invoice period, or notice period, the details matter — here is what you need to know.
GCC weekend rules
UAE — Saturday-Sunday: Effective 1 January 2022, the UAE shifted from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday for federal government employees. Most private-sector companies followed. This was a deliberate move to increase business overlap with global markets — giving UAE companies a full working week aligned with Europe and the US.
Saudi Arabia — Friday-Saturday: Saudi Arabia changed from Thursday-Friday to Friday-Saturday in June 2013. Friday remains a holy day but is now the first day of the weekend rather than the second.
Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman — Friday-Saturday: All observe a Friday-Saturday weekend. Friday is the Islamic holy day and is a public holiday in all GCC countries.
Islamic public holidays and the lunar calendar
Most GCC public holidays are based on the Hijri (Islamic lunar) calendar, which is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. This means Islamic holidays shift roughly 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar:
- Eid Al Fitr — end of Ramadan (3 days, dates announced by moon sighting)
- Eid Al Adha — 10th of Dhul Hijjah (3–4 days)
- Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) — 1st of Muharram
- Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) — 12th of Rabi Al Awwal
Exact dates for Islamic holidays are confirmed by the official moon sighting committee in each country — they may differ from pre-announced dates by one day.
Fixed (Gregorian) public holidays
Some GCC public holidays fall on fixed Gregorian dates each year:
- UAE National Day: 2–3 December
- Saudi National Day: 23 September; Founding Day: 22 February
- Bahrain National Day: 16–17 December
- Qatar National Day: 18 December
- Kuwait National Day: 25 February; Liberation Day: 26 February
- Oman National Day: 18–19 November
Do GCC holidays shift when they fall on a weekend?
Generally no. Unlike the UK or US where a bank holiday falling on a Saturday or Sunday is moved to Monday, most GCC countries do not have a consistent substitute holiday policy. A public holiday that falls on a weekend is typically lost — employees do not receive a compensatory day off unless their employer's policy states otherwise or the government announces a substitute day.
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