The Hijri calendar and how it is used in Saudi business
Key takeaways
- The Hijri calendar is lunar and about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year
- Religious occasions follow the Hijri calendar
- Both calendars appear on official documents and in daily life
Saudi Arabia uses both the Islamic Hijri calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Understanding the two avoids confusion with dates on documents, contracts and holidays.
What is the Hijri calendar?
The Hijri calendar begins with the migration (Hijra) of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. It has 12 lunar months, so the year is about 354 days. Saudi Arabia uses the Umm al-Qura calendar for official Hijri dates.
Where you will see each calendar
- Religious occasions such as Ramadan, Eid and Hajj follow the Hijri calendar
- Government and business increasingly use Gregorian dates for fiscal years, salaries and contracts
- Some documents show both dates side by side
Practical tips
- Check which calendar a document uses before calculating deadlines
- Expect Ramadan and the Eids to move about 11 days earlier each year
- Use a reliable converter for dates on older documents
Frequently asked questions
What year is it in the Hijri calendar?
Late 2026 falls in the Hijri year 1448.
Do salaries follow the Hijri or Gregorian month?
Most organisations now pay salaries according to the Gregorian calendar.
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