Saudi Arabia extends holiday

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has extended the Eid al-Adha holiday through Oct. 3.

What does the change mean? Government offices will reopen Sunday, Oct. 4 – not this week as originally planned.

• Implementation time frame: Ongoing.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas, permits and other immigration-related services.
• Who is affected: Employers and foreign nationals in need of immigration-related services in Saudi Arabia.
• Impact on processing times: Delays and backlogs should be expected when offices reopen.
• Business impact: Holiday delays may have a minor impact on business schedules and assignments.

Background: Government offices in countries throughout the Muslim world were closed for the Eid al-Adha holiday. Saudi Arabia had originally planned to observe the holiday from Sept. 20 to 27, but King Salman subsequently ordered its extension. Government offices are now scheduled to remain closed for the rest of the week, reopening Sunday.

BAL Analysis: Anyone in need of immigration or other government services in Saudi Arabia should take note of the holiday’s extension and prepare for possible delays when offices reopen.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Saudi Arabia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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