The Saudi WhatsApp Campaign Calendar, October 2026 to December 2027
Payday on the 27th, Riyadh Season, White Friday, a Founding Day that falls inside Ramadan, and two Eids — the Saudi year has a rhythm of its own. Here is what to send, when, and in which template category.
Short answer: the next fifteen months in Saudi Arabia have five peaks worth planning for — Riyadh Season (opened 21 October 2026), White Friday (27 November 2026, which is also the 27th, the usual salary day), Ramadan 2027 (expected to begin around 8 February), Eid al-Fitr (expected around 9–10 March) and Eid al-Adha (expected around 16 May), plus National Day on 23 September 2027. Religious dates are estimates and remain subject to moon sighting. Founding Day on 22 February 2027 falls in the middle of Ramadan, so its campaigns need a quieter tone than usual. Submit templates at least a week before each peak, send offers only as marketing templates to opted-in customers, and in Ramadan move your sending window to the hours after iftar.
Three Saudi rhythms that shape every campaign
The 27th of the month
Since a royal directive in January 2018, government salaries in the Kingdom are paid on the 27th of each Gregorian month, and many private employers follow the same date. Spending intent rises in the days after. A small reminder campaign on the 27th or 28th — to customers who abandoned a cart or asked about a product that month — often outperforms a larger blast mid-month.
A Friday–Saturday weekend
The official weekend is Friday and Saturday. Thursday evening is the start of the weekend for most families, and Friday afternoon after the prayer is a natural browsing window. Avoid sending promotions during Friday prayer time.
The Hijri calendar moves
Ramadan, both Eids and the Hajj season move about eleven days earlier each Gregorian year, and their exact start is confirmed only after the moon is sighted. Plan with the estimates below, keep templates approved in advance, and schedule the final send only when the date is announced.
The calendar at a glance
Dates marked "expected" are astronomical estimates, subject to moon sighting and official announcement. School dates follow the 1448 academic calendar as published by mdares.ai citing the Ministry of Education.
| Date | Occasion | Who it matters to | What to send | Template category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct – late Dec 2026 | Riyadh Season (about ten weeks) | Riyadh restaurants, cafés, hotels, fashion, car rental | Booking prompts, event-weekend offers | Marketing |
| 20–28 Nov 2026 | School autumn break | Travel agents, entertainment, family dining | Short-break packages, family bundles | Marketing |
| 27 Nov 2026 | White Friday (also payday) | E-commerce, electronics, fashion, beauty | Early access for opted-in customers, then the sale | Marketing; order and COD confirmations as utility |
| December 2026 | Exams, year-end, Riyadh Season finale | Tutoring centres, restaurants, retailers | Exam-week delivery deals, year-end clearance | Marketing |
| 8–16 Jan 2027 | School mid-year break | Travel, domestic tourism, entertainment | Holiday packages, family activities | Marketing |
| Expected 8 Feb 2027 | Ramadan begins | Grocery, restaurants, dates and sweets, abayas, home | Ramadan baskets, iftar and suhoor ordering, gift boxes | Marketing; changed-hours notices to customers with open bookings as utility |
| 22 Feb 2027 | Founding Day (falls in Ramadan) | Retail, heritage and cultural products, food | A respectful greeting, heritage collections | Marketing |
| Late Feb – early Mar 2027 | Last ten nights of Ramadan; Eid shopping | Fashion, perfume, gifts, sweets, salons | Eid outfits, perfume gifts, salon bookings, delivery cut-off dates | Marketing; delivery updates as utility |
| Expected 9–10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr | Everyone | Eid greeting; post-Eid thank-you offer | Marketing |
| Expected 15–17 May 2027 | Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha; Hajj season | Butchers, catering, travel, Makkah and Madinah hospitality | Udhiyah orders, Eid gatherings, travel | Marketing; booking confirmations as utility |
| From 24 Jun 2027 | Summer break begins | Travel, summer courses, electronics | Summer travel, kids' programmes | Marketing |
| Early – 22 Aug 2027 | Back to school (1449 year starts 22 Aug) | Stationery, uniforms, electronics, transport | Back-to-school lists and bundles | Marketing |
| 23 Sep 2027 | Saudi National Day | Retail, restaurants, telecom, banks | National Day greeting and offers | Marketing |
| Oct – Dec 2027 | Riyadh Season 2027, White Friday 2027, year-end | Same as 2026 | Repeat what worked in 2026 | Marketing |
Riyadh Season 2027 and White Friday 2027 dates had not been announced when this was written; the 2026 editions opened on 21 October and fell on 27 November respectively. Ten weeks from 21 October 2026 ends around 30 December — our arithmetic, not a published closing date.
October – December 2026
Riyadh Season
The General Entertainment Authority opened the seventh Riyadh Season on Wednesday 21 October 2026, under the slogan "Big Time", for about ten weeks of concerts, boxing, tennis and family zones across Boulevard World, Boulevard City and other venues. For a Riyadh restaurant, café or hotel, the useful messages are practical: a table booking before a big event night, late opening hours, parking or delivery to the venues. Send to opted-in local customers, not your national list.
يا هلا {{1}} ✨ موسم الرياض بدأ! إذا ناوي تطلع البوليفارد هالأسبوع، احجز طاولتك عندنا قبل الزحمة من الرابط أدناه. لإيقاف العروض أرسل «إيقاف».
Hi {{1}} ✨ Riyadh Season is on! Heading to the Boulevard this week? Book your table with us before the rush using the link below. Reply STOP to stop offers.
White Friday, 27 November 2026
Salla's seasons calendar lists White Friday on 27 November 2026 and suggests preparing about six weeks ahead — so the planning window opens around mid-October. This year it lands on the 27th, so customers will have just been paid. Three practical points for WhatsApp:
- Get the Ministry of Commerce discount licence first; a licence is required before advertising discounts, and customers can scan it to check it.
- Submit templates by mid-November. Meta says review can take up to 24 hours, but a rejected template needs a second round.
- Expect a spike in COD orders and send a utility confirmation for each before it ships — at SAR 0.0401 against SAR 0.2159 for marketing, it is the cheapest message you will send all week.
الجمعة البيضاء وصلت 🤍 خصومات تصل إلى 40٪ على تشكيلة العبايات والفساتين حتى يوم الأحد، والتوصيل لجميع مدن المملكة. تسوّقي الآن من الرابط أدناه. لإيقاف العروض أرسلي «إيقاف».
White Friday is here 🤍 Up to 40% off abayas and dresses until Sunday, with delivery across the Kingdom. Shop now with the link below. Reply STOP to stop offers.
School autumn break and December
The autumn break (20–28 November 2026) overlaps White Friday week, which suits travel agencies and family entertainment. December brings first-term exams and the end of Riyadh Season: tutoring centres, late-night food delivery and year-end clearance all have a natural reason to message.
January – March 2027: mid-year break, Ramadan, Founding Day and Eid al-Fitr
Mid-year break, 8–16 January
Domestic travel and family activities. A good moment to collect consent for the Ramadan season — run a Click-to-WhatsApp ad for a Ramadan pre-order list, so you start February with customers who asked to hear from you.
Ramadan, expected from 8 February 2027
The Saudi Hijri calendar site, as reported by Jordan News, expects 1 Ramadan 1448 on Monday 8 February 2027, with a 29-day month — subject to moon sighting. Under Article 98 of the Labour Law, working hours for Muslim employees in the private sector are reduced to a maximum of six hours a day, or 36 a week, during Ramadan, so customer-service staffing and reply times change too.
| Time of day in Ramadan | What customers are doing | WhatsApp approach |
|---|---|---|
| Morning to early afternoon | Fasting, shorter working day | No promotions; answer service chats only |
| Afternoon to iftar | Preparing iftar, last-minute shopping | Delivery-slot reminders as utility for open orders; avoid offers in the last hour before iftar |
| After iftar to midnight | Browsing, family visits, shopping | Main window for marketing |
| Midnight to suhoor | Late shopping, suhoor orders | Restaurants and grocery only; stop promotions by 1 AM |
CST's anti-spam rules bar promotional SMS from 1 AM to 12 PM during Ramadan; they are written for SMS, but the same window is a sensible default for WhatsApp. Set it in QuickWA's sending-window setting before the month begins, and scheduled broadcasts will wait until it reopens.
رمضان كريم {{1}} 🌙 جهّزنا لك سلال رمضان بأسعار خاصة، والطلب متاح يوميًا بعد الإفطار حتى الواحدة فجرًا. اطلب الآن من الرابط أدناه. لإيقاف العروض أرسل «إيقاف».
Ramadan Kareem {{1}} 🌙 Our Ramadan baskets are ready at special prices, with ordering open every day from iftar until 1 AM. Order with the link below. Reply STOP to stop offers.
A notice of changed Ramadan opening hours sent to everyone is promotional in Meta's eyes, because it is not tied to a customer's order or booking. The same notice sent to a customer about their existing appointment can be utility.
Founding Day, 22 February 2027 — inside Ramadan
Founding Day is a public holiday on 22 February, and in 2027 it falls about two weeks into Ramadan; schools break from 19 to 22 February. Campaigns built on celebration and loud discounts will feel out of place. Keep it to a heritage-themed collection or a short greeting, sent after iftar.
في يوم التأسيس نحتفي بتاريخنا العريق 🤎 شاركونا الاحتفاء بتشكيلتنا المستوحاة من التراث السعودي، متوفرة الآن في المتجر. لإيقاف العروض أرسل «إيقاف».
On Founding Day we celebrate our proud history 🤎 Discover our collection inspired by Saudi tradition, now in store. Reply STOP to stop offers.
The last ten nights and Eid al-Fitr, expected 9–10 March
Eid al-Fitr is expected on Tuesday 9 March 2027 if Ramadan lasts 29 days, or 10 March if it lasts 30. Schools break from 26 February. The last ten nights are when Eid outfits, perfume, sweets and salon bookings peak — and when couriers get busy, so publish your last order date for delivery before Eid and send a utility update to every customer with an order in transit.
سيصلك طلبك رقم {{1}} قبل العيد بإذن الله، وموعد التوصيل المتوقع {{2}}. تقدر تتابع الشحنة من الرابط أدناه.
Your order {{1}} is on track to arrive before Eid, with expected delivery on {{2}}. You can track it with the link below.
An Eid greeting with no offer is still a marketing template, because it is not about an order or account. Send it once, on Eid morning or the evening before, to opted-in customers.
April – September 2027
Eid al-Adha and the Hajj season
Eid al-Adha is expected around Sunday 16 May 2027, with the Day of Arafah the day before; if the Dhul Hijjah crescent is not sighted on 6 May, both move a day later. The school break runs from 7 May. Butchers and caterers taking udhiyah orders, travel agencies, and hotels and restaurants in Makkah and Madinah should have booking-confirmation and reminder templates approved in April, before the rush.
Summer and back to school
The school year ends on 24 June 2027 and the 1449 year begins on 22 August 2027. Back-to-school messages work best from early August: school lists, uniforms, laptops and school transport.
National Day, 23 September 2027
National Day is a public holiday on Thursday 23 September 2027, which gives a long weekend. It is one of the busiest retail moments of the year; the same discount-licence rule applies to any sale you advertise.
كل عام والوطن بخير 💚 بمناسبة اليوم الوطني، خصم 23٪ على جميع المنتجات حتى السبت. تسوّق الآن من الرابط أدناه. لإيقاف العروض أرسل «إيقاف».
Happy National Day 💚 Enjoy 23% off everything until Saturday. Shop now with the link below. Reply STOP to stop offers.
October – December 2027
Riyadh Season 2027 and White Friday 2027 had no announced dates at the time of writing. Use your 2026 results — which segments opened, which templates were blocked — to plan them, and check Salla's seasons calendar and the General Entertainment Authority's announcements from September.
A four-week rhythm before every peak
- Four weeks out: collect consent (Click-to-WhatsApp ads and a checkout checkbox), build the segment, and confirm any licence you need.
- Three weeks out: write templates in Arabic and English, submit them, and fix any rejections.
- Two weeks out: test on your own team's numbers; check the right-to-left layout on a phone.
- One week out: schedule broadcasts inside your sending window, and brief the team on likely questions.
- After the peak: check blocks and the quality rating in QuickWA's number-health view before planning the next one.
Costs for each campaign are in our Saudi pricing guide, consent rules in the Saudi marketing rules guide, and the product details on our Saudi Arabia page.
Sources
- Riyadh Season 2026 opening date and length: Gulf News (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- White Friday 2026 date and preparation window: Salla seasons calendar (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Ramadan 2027 and Eid al-Fitr estimates from the Saudi Hijri calendar site: Jordan News (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- 2027 public holidays — Founding Day, Eid al-Fitr, Arafat, Eid al-Adha, National Day; Friday–Saturday weekend: Office Holidays (third-party, checked 23 Oct 2026)
- 1448 school calendar (start, autumn, mid-year, Founding Day, Eid and summer breaks): mdares.ai, citing the Ministry of Education (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Ramadan working hours under Article 98 of the Labour Law: Ajel, reporting MHRSD and Qoyod's Labour Law guide (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Salaries paid on the 27th of each Gregorian month: Qoyod (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- CST promotional-message hours for SMS, including Ramadan: Taqnyat's CST compliance guide (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Commerce discount licence: Ajel, 16 August 2026 (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Meta — template categories and review times: categorisation, review (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start in Saudi Arabia? +
The Saudi Hijri calendar site expects 1 Ramadan 1448 on Monday 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 March if the month has 29 days or 10 March if it has 30. The official dates are confirmed only after moon sighting.
When is White Friday 2026 in Saudi Arabia? +
Salla's seasons calendar lists White Friday on 27 November 2026. It coincides with the 27th, the usual salary day, and with the school autumn break.
What time should I send WhatsApp offers during Ramadan? +
After iftar until around midnight is the main window. CST's SMS rules bar promotions from 1 AM to 12 PM in Ramadan; that rule is written for SMS, but using the same window on WhatsApp is good practice.
Is an Eid greeting a marketing or utility template? +
Marketing. Meta's utility category is for messages tied to a customer's order, account or service. A greeting or a general opening-hours notice sent to everyone is marketing; a delivery update for a customer's order is utility.
Does Founding Day 2027 fall in Ramadan? +
Yes. Founding Day is on 22 February 2027, about two weeks into Ramadan if the month begins on 8 February. Keep campaigns respectful and send them after iftar.
Do I need a licence to advertise a White Friday sale on WhatsApp? +
The Ministry of Commerce requires a licence before a business advertises discounts, and the licence must be shown so customers can verify it. Get it before your first sale template goes out.