Egypt Eid Al Adha 2026: Six-Day Holiday Confirmed for All Workers

Egypt has matched its government holiday schedule to the private sector for Eid Al Adha, giving workers across all formal employment categories a confirmed six-day paid break from Tuesday, May 26, through Sunday, May 31. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly signed Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1516 of 2026 on May 19 covering state employees, and Minister of Labor Hassan Radad followed on May 21 with a matching announcement for private-sector workers under Article 129 of Labour Law No. 14 of 2025. Work resumes Monday, June 1.

The synchronized timing matters. Private-sector circulars are legally separate from government decrees, and in previous cycles the gap between the two announcements sometimes stretched to the eve of the holiday. Both decisions are in place before the break begins this time, leaving employers and employees with clear guidance on dates, pay, and what happens if someone is called in anyway.

Egypt’s Six-Day Eid Al Adha Break: Official Dates

The holiday opens on the Day of Arafah and runs through the weekend, covering six consecutive calendar days before a normal Monday return.

Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta confirmed the dates through official astronomical calculations published earlier this month. The prime minister’s decree covers ministries, government bodies, public authorities, local administration units, public-sector companies, and public business-sector companies. Banks follow the same schedule and reopen Monday, June 1, per the Central Bank of Egypt’s banking holiday statement; online and mobile banking services stay available throughout. The Egypt Presidency national holidays calendar lists the remaining official holidays through December for annual planning.

The Private Sector: Now Fully Covered

Minister of Labor Hassan Radad announced on May 21 that May 26-31 constitutes an official paid holiday for workers covered by Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (Egypt’s revised employment code, which replaced the 22-year-old Law No. 12 of 2003 on September 1, 2025). The announcement invokes Article 129 of the law and mirrors the government decree point for point. All six days are now confirmed and paid for private-sector employees.

Understanding the baseline helps explain why the process runs in two stages. Ministerial Decision No. 294 of 2025, issued under Egypt Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 as analyzed by EY Global, lists the minimum paid holidays for private-sector workers. For Eid Al Adha, that document specifies three days as the guaranteed floor: Arafah Day plus the first and second days of Eid. The additional three days in the 2026 cycle (May 29 through May 31) require the separate ministerial circular that Radad issued on May 21.

A comparable sequence played out in April. The Ministry of Labour designated Monday, April 13, as a paid official holiday for private-sector workers in celebration of Sham El-Nessim, citing the same legislation and the same mechanism. Back-to-back use of Article 129 for two consecutive holiday cycles suggests the ministry is treating sector parity as a standing policy under the new labour code, not a discretionary call made holiday by holiday.

Law No. 14 of 2025 was published in the Official Gazette on May 3, 2025, after ratification by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and entered into force September 1, 2025. Its 298 articles represent, as JURIST’s University of Pittsburgh Law review of Egypt’s labour reform concluded, the country’s most ambitious labour overhaul in more than two decades.

Your Core Rights for These Six Days

The 2025 labour code establishes four baseline protections that apply to every officially designated holiday. These cover all private-sector employees across all activities, including those in the remote and flexible work arrangements formally recognized under the law for the first time in Egyptian legislation.

• Fully paid leave for all six days at your regular daily rate, with no salary deduction permitted.
• Separation from annual leave: official public holidays sit in a legally distinct category and cannot be subtracted from your annual leave balance.
• Wage protection: no employer may reduce, delay, or offset salary payments during an official holiday period.
• Compensation entitlement if you are required to work: explicit rules govern this and are covered in the next section.

Two categories fall outside the law’s scope. State employees and public-sector workers are governed by the government decree rather than the Ministry of Labour’s circular. Domestic workers (household staff) are explicitly excluded from Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 and will be covered under separate forthcoming legislation.

For any dispute over holiday pay or forced leave deductions, employees may file a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower through its official portal or hotline. Labour courts established under the 2025 law began hearing cases on October 1, 2025, and dismissal-related disputes must now reach a decision within three months of the first hearing, a binding timeframe that had no equivalent in the previous framework.

Compensation When You Are Called In

Working on an official public holiday under Egypt’s 2025 labour code triggers one of two outcomes, at the employee’s choice:

The written-request requirement carries practical weight. A verbal agreement to take a compensatory day gives the employee no legal standing under the new framework if the employer later disputes the arrangement. As the ICLG briefing on key changes under Egypt’s new labour law notes, the shift toward documented compensation is part of a broader emphasis on paper-trail employment practices woven through the 2025 legislation. Workers who receive neither option may file a complaint with the Ministry of Manpower.

Stretching the Break to 10 Days

Workers on a standard Friday-Saturday weekend have a narrow but practical window to extend the official six days into ten. The holiday starts Tuesday, May 26. The two working days immediately before it, Sunday, May 24, and Monday, May 25, are the only business days separating the May 22-23 weekend from the start of the break. Taking two annual leave days on those dates creates a continuous run from Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 31, yielding a 10-day uninterrupted window before the June 1 return.

Ten days opens destinations that a standard long weekend cannot reach comfortably:

• Domestic favourites on the Red Sea coast: Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, within a short flight or drive from Cairo and Alexandria
• Regional picks within three to four hours: Istanbul, Amman, Dubai, and Beirut
• Full-window international options: Kuala Lumpur, Tbilisi, and Baku, each well under eight hours from Cairo

Eid season pushes airfares sharply on popular routes. Comparing fares across EgyptAir and Air Cairo on May 22 is the last realistic booking window for a Sunday departure, and short-haul regional routes to Istanbul and Dubai fill significantly faster than longer-haul alternatives.

All six days are confirmed and paid. The only remaining decision is where to spend them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Eid Al Adha 2026 Dates Confirmed for Private-Sector Workers in Egypt?

Yes. Minister of Labor Hassan Radad announced on May 21, 2026, that Tuesday, May 26, through Sunday, May 31, constitutes an official paid holiday for private-sector employees under Labour Law No. 14 of 2025. The decision aligns with Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1516 of 2026, which covers government and public-sector employees across the same dates.

Can My Employer Deduct Eid Al Adha Days from My Annual Leave?

No. Under Egypt’s 2025 labour code, official public holidays are a legally separate category from annual leave and cannot be deducted from your balance, even if your employment contract contains a clause to the contrary.

What Pay Am I Entitled to If Asked to Work During the Eid Holiday?

Your regular daily wage plus twice that amount, amounting to triple pay for each holiday day worked. Alternatively, you are entitled to a paid compensatory day off, provided you submit the request in writing and the agreement is recorded in your employment file by the employer.

Are Banks Open During Egypt’s Eid Al Adha Break?

No. Egyptian banks are closed May 26-31, 2026, and resume normal operations on Monday, June 1. Online banking and mobile applications remain fully available throughout the holiday period, per the Central Bank of Egypt’s banking holiday statement.

When Is the Day of Arafah in Egypt in 2026?

Waqfet Arafat falls on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, corresponding to 9 Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH. Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta confirmed the date through official astronomical calculations. It is the first day of the six-day break and a paid public holiday for both government and private-sector workers.

Who Is Excluded from Egypt’s Private-Sector Holiday Rules?

State employees and public-sector workers are governed by the prime minister’s decree rather than the Ministry of Labour’s circular, so Labour Law No. 14 of 2025’s protections do not apply to them directly. Domestic workers (household staff) are excluded from the labour law entirely and will be governed by separate forthcoming legislation.

Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Egypt’s employment regulations and ministerial announcements may be updated after publication. Employees with specific disputes or compliance questions should consult a qualified Egyptian labour attorney or contact the Ministry of Manpower directly. Dates and figures are accurate as of May 22, 2026.