Public holidays

Egypt observes thirteen official public holidays annually, as established by the Presidency of the Republic. These holidays include both Islamic observances—Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and the Prophet's Birthday—and national commemorative dates such as January 25 Revolution and National Police Day, July 23 Revolution Day, June 30 Revolution Day, Armed Forces Day, and Sinai Liberation Day. The calendar also includes Labor Day on May 7 and Coptic Christmas on January 7, reflecting Egypt's Christian minority. Spring Festival (Shm El Nessim) is observed as a cultural holiday following Eid al-Fitr.

The official public holiday schedule is published annually by the Presidency of the Republic of Egypt and serves as the authoritative source for employers nationwide. For 2026, the Presidency has confirmed the complete list of public holidays with specific dates, enabling employers to plan payroll and workforce scheduling accordingly.

Employers in Egypt must grant employees paid leave on all designated public holidays. When a public holiday falls on a weekend, Egyptian labor law typically provides for a substitute working day or additional compensation. Employees required to work on public holidays are entitled to premium pay, usually calculated as double their regular wage or as specified in their employment contracts and collective agreements.

Payroll teams must ensure accurate holiday tracking, proper compensation calculations for holiday work, and compliance with any sector-specific variations. Since Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar, dates may shift annually; employers should verify the official Presidency announcement each year to maintain compliance with current statutory requirements.