Jeddah school holidays 2026: term dates calendar

Saudi public holidays 2026

Every Jeddah school closes on Saudi national holidays and on the Eid breaks. The Eid dates depend on the lunar calendar and are confirmed close to the date, so treat them as expected until announced.

Saudi Arabia observes a Friday and Saturday weekend, with the school week running Sunday to Thursday. That shapes how breaks fall around weekends compared with countries on a Saturday and Sunday weekend, so a one-day holiday can create a longer effective break.

Ministry of Education semester dates 2025-26 and 2026-27

The Saudi Ministry of Education sets a unified calendar for state and Saudi-curriculum schools across the Kingdom, including Jeddah's districts from Al Hamra and Al Rawdah to Obhur. From the 1447 AH year it runs two semesters rather than three terms. The confirmed anchors for 2025-26 are below.

The exact mid-year and mid-semester break dates for 2025-26 were still being finalised by the Ministry at the time of writing, so the January window is shown as indicative and will be updated once confirmed. Individual schools keep within the Ministry framework but may adjust by a few days. Confirm with your school's published calendar before booking travel.

International school term dates

Jeddah's international schools serve expat and globally mobile families and often run a northern-hemisphere year rather than the Ministry calendar, though all observe Saudi national holidays:

• British curriculum schools deliver three terms with half terms in October and February, a spring break around Easter, and a summer break from late June or early July.
• IB schools follow a similar three-term shape, with a May exam window for the Diploma cohort.
• American schools run two semesters with a winter break around late December and a summer break from mid-June.

The Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha breaks apply to international schools too, which can extend a term break or interrupt the exam season depending on where Eid falls. To understand each programme see our curriculum guides, and for national context our Saudi Arabia country hub.

Planning the year

Three practical notes for Jeddah families. First, the long summer break from late June into August is the hottest part of the year, when many families travel abroad to escape the heat, so flights out of Jeddah peak; book early. Second, the Eid breaks float with the lunar calendar, so the exact spring and early-summer holiday dates move each year and travel prices spike around the confirmed Eid windows. Third, international school fee instalments usually fall at the start of each term or semester, so plan payment around the August and January restarts. Our Jeddah international school fees guide sets out the tiers and timing.

Common questions

When do schools break up in Jeddah for summer 2026? The Ministry of Education end-of-year break begins on 26 June 2026, so most state and Saudi-curriculum schools break up in late June. International schools often finish a little earlier.

How long is the summer holiday in Jeddah? Around eight weeks, from late June to the late-August restart.

When does the 2026 school year start in Jeddah? The 2026-27 year starts for students on 23 August 2026.

Does Jeddah use a two-semester or three-term year? From 1447 AH (2025-26) Saudi Arabia returned to a two-semester calendar across public schools.

Do the Eid breaks affect international schools? Yes. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha close every school, which can extend a break or interrupt the exam season.

Related guides

• Jeddah international school fees
• Jeddah city guide
• Saudi Arabia country guide