Egypt announces October 8 holiday for Armed Forces Day

The Egyptian government has announced that Thursday, October 8, 2026, will be an official paid holiday for both the public and private sectors in observance of Armed Forces Day and the October 6 victories. This decision shifts the holiday from Tuesday, October 6, to Thursday to unify holiday schedules across various state sectors.

For the public sector, the holiday applies to employees in ministries, government agencies, local administration units, and public business sector companies. This arrangement results in a three-day consecutive break including Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Labor Minister Hassan Redad confirmed that the holiday also extends to private sector employees covered by Labor Law No. 14 of 2025. Employers may require staff to work during the holiday if necessary; in such cases, employees are entitled to their regular wage plus double pay, or an alternative day off upon written request.