2026-01-01

Circular No. 4: Official Holidays for Religious and National Occasions in Palestine for the Year 2026

The Palestine Monetary Authority issued Circular No. 4/2026 to all banks operating in Palestine, mandating the implementation of the official public holidays for religious and national occasions in 2026 as approved by the Palestinian Cabinet. This directive enforces the government's decision dated December 16, 2025, which establishes specific leave schedules for Islamic, Christian (Eastern and Western), and Samaritan employees based on attached official tables. The circular requires financial institutions to take necessary measures to ensure compliance with these statutory holiday periods throughout the year 2026.

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Palestine Monetary Authority

Circular No. (4 / 2026) To all banks operating in Palestine Date: Thursday, January 08, 2026

Subject: Official Holidays for Religious and National Occasions in Palestine for the Year 2026

Based on the provisions of Article No. (73) of the Banks Law No. (9) of 2010, and in conjunction with the attached decision of the esteemed Cabinet of Ministers No. (3) of 2025 regarding the official holidays for religious and national occasions in Palestine for the year 2026, please take the necessary measures to implement the decision.

Supervision Group Palestine Monetary Authority

  • Copy: The Honorable Palestinian Deposit Insurance Corporation.
  • Copy: The Honorable Financial Monitoring Unit.

State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers General Secretariat

Reference (A.A.M.W./2025/ 3.7 / 1288) December 18, 2025

Your Excellency, Head of the General Department of Civil Service, may God protect you,

Subject: Official Holidays for Religious and National Occasions in Palestine for the Year 2026

The General Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers extends its best regards and informs you of the decision issued by the Cabinet of Ministers during its weekly session No. (19/90) held on December 16, 2025, regarding the approval of official holiday days for religious and national occasions in the State of Palestine for the year 2026.

We kindly request you to take the necessary measures to implement the decision.

Please accept the highest regards and appreciation,

Dr. Dawas Dawas Secretary-General of the Cabinet of Ministers

Attached: The mentioned decision, tables. Copy: His Excellency the Prime Minister, may God protect him.


State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. (90/19/C.M/M) for the year 2025 Official Holidays for Religious and National Occasions in Palestine for the Year 2026

Based on the authorities vested in us by law; And upon the proposal of the Head of the General Department of Civil Service; And based on the requirements of public interest;

And after reviewing the Amended Basic Law of 2003 and its amendments; And the Civil Service Law No. (4) of 1998 and its amendments and executive regulations;

The Cabinet of Ministers decided in its session held in Ramallah on December 16, 2025, the following:

Article One Approval of the official holiday days for religious and national occasions in the State of Palestine for the year 2026, according to the tables attached to this decision, which are authenticated with the seal of the General Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Article Two The competent authorities shall implement the provisions of this decision, each within its jurisdiction, and it shall be effective from the date of its issuance and published in the Official Gazette.

Issued in Ramallah on December 16, 2025.

Dr. Dawas Dawas Secretary-General of the Cabinet of Ministers


State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers General Secretariat Reference (A.A.M.W./2025/ 3.7 / 1288) December 18, 2025

Official Holidays in Palestine

Table One National Occasions and Holidays

OccasionDateDuration of Official Holiday
Eid al-Fitr1 ShawwalVigil and three days
Eid al-Adha10 Dhu al-HijjahVigil and four days
Islamic New Year1 MuharramOne day
Prophet's Birthday12 Rabi' al-AwwalOne day
Isra' and Mi'raj27 RajabOne day
New Year's DayJanuary 1One day
International Women's DayMarch 8One day
Easter SundayApril 12One day
Labor DayMay 1One day
Independence DayNovember 15One day
Western ChristmasDecember 25One day
Eastern ChristmasJanuary 7One day

State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers General Secretariat Reference (A.A.M.W./2025/ 3.7 / 1288) December 18, 2025

Table Two Religious Occasions and Holidays considered official holidays for Eastern Christian Employees

OccasionDateDuration of Official Holiday
Christmas2026/01/07Two days
Eastern New Year2026/01/14One day
Epiphany2026/01/19One day
Palm Sunday2026/04/05One day
Maundy Thursday2026/04/09One day
Good Friday2026/04/10One day
Holy Saturday2026/04/11One day
Easter Sunday2026/04/12Two days
Ascension Thursday2026/05/21One day
Pentecost Sunday2026/05/31One day

State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers General Secretariat Reference (A.A.M.W./2025/ 3.7 / 1288) December 18, 2025

Table Three Religious Occasions and Holidays considered official holidays for Western Christian Employees

OccasionDateDuration of Official Holiday
Western New Year2026/01/01One day
Epiphany2026/01/06One day
Palm Sunday2026/03/29One day
Maundy Thursday2026/04/02One day
Good Friday2026/04/03One day
Holy Saturday2026/04/04One day
Easter Sunday2026/04/05Two days
Ascension Thursday2026/05/14One day
Pentecost Sunday2026/05/24One day
Christmas2026/12/25Two days

State of Palestine Cabinet of Ministers General Secretariat Reference (A.A.M.W./2025/ 3.7 / 1288) December 18, 2025

Table Four Religious Occasions and Holidays considered official holidays for Samaritan Employees

OccasionDateDuration of Official Holiday
Passover and Sacrifice2026/04/29-30Two days
Last days of Passover2026/05/07One day
Feast of the Giving of the Torah2026/06/17One day
Feast of Ascension/Harvest2026/06/21One day
Hebrew New Year2026/10/11One day
Day of Atonement/Fasting2026/10/20-21Two days
Feast of Tabernacles/Booths2026/10/25One day
Feast of the End of Holidays2026/11/01One day