OCTOBER 2026 – EGYPT
PUBLIC HOLIDAY DATE MOVED TO 8 OCTOBER
It is important that employers note the following:
Armed Forces Day public holiday moved to Thursday, 8 October 2026
The Egyptian Ministry of Labour announced on 1 October 2026, by means of Circular No. 22 of 2026, that the Armed Forces Day public holiday for private sector employees covered by Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 will be observed on Thursday, 8 October 2026, instead of Tuesday, 6 October 2026. This change follows the alternative holiday arrangements introduced under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2898 of 2026, published on 29 September 2026.
Employer considerations
Employers may require employees to work on the public holiday where operational requirements make this necessary. In these circumstances, employees are entitled to:
- Double their ordinary remuneration for work performed on the holiday; or
- An alternative paid day off, provided a written request is submitted and retained on the employee’s personnel file.
Payroll impact
Employers should:
- Update payroll and leave systems to reflect Thursday, 8 October 2026 as the official public holiday.
- Review work schedules for employees required to work on the holiday.
- Ensure public holiday pay or alternative leave arrangements are applied in accordance with Egyptian labour legislation.
The transfer of the Armed Forces Day holiday to Thursday, 8 October 2026, forms part of Egypt’s ongoing practice of aligning public holiday dates across the public and private sectors where possible. Similar holiday transfers have been implemented for other public holidays during 2026. Future holiday transfers, however, remain subject to specific government decisions and are not automatic.
To view Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2898 of 2026, follow the link. Circular No. 22 of 2026, referred to in the Ministry of Labour announcement, is not publicly available.
