Public Holidays and Business Hours in Rwanda
The official public holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January | Day after New Year’s Day |
| 1 February | National Heroes’ Day |
| Moveable | Good Friday |
| Moveable | Easter Monday |
| 7 April | Genocide against the Tutsi Memorial Day |
| 1 May | Labour Day |
| 1 July | Independence Day |
| 4 July | Liberation Day |
| Friday of the first week of August | Umuganura Day |
| 15 August | Assumption Day |
| 25 December | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Boxing Day |
| Announced each year | Eid al-Fitr |
| Announced each year | Eid al-Adha |
Source: RwandaLII: Presidential Order N° 54 of 2017 determining official public holidays1
- Weekends: if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next working day becomes a holiday. Two weekend holidays in a row are made up with one working day.
- 7 April is the exception: it is never moved.
- Eid: the dates of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are announced each year by the Rwanda Muslims’ Association.
Source: RwandaLII: Presidential Order N° 54 of 2017 determining official public holidays1
The government publishes each year’s dates, with the days moved under the weekend rule, on its holidays page.5
Working hours
| Who | Hours |
|---|---|
| Government offices | 9:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, plus a one-hour lunch break |
| Schools | 8:30 to 17:00 |
| Most businesses | 8:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday |
| Shops and businesses at weekends | Between 9:00 and 22:00 |
| Banks | 8:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 8:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays; some branches open on Sundays |
Source: Government of Rwanda: New school and working hours come into force; Embassy of Rwanda in Germany: Practical information; US International Trade Administration: Rwanda business travel2,3,4
The official hours started in January 2023. The hour from 8:00 to 9:00 is flexible, and staff may work it from home.2
On the last Saturday of each month, Umuganda community work closes most shops and offices until about midday, and banks do not open.3,4
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Rwanda have?
15 official public holidays, the same for the public and private sectors.
What if a holiday falls on a weekend?
The next working day is off, except for 7 April.
What are working hours in Rwanda?
Government offices work 9:00 to 17:00. Most businesses open 8:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.
What time zone is Rwanda in?
Central Africa Time, UTC+2, all year.
Sources
- RwandaLII: Presidential Order N° 54 of 2017 determining official public holidays
- Government of Rwanda: New school and working hours come into force
- Embassy of Rwanda in Germany: Practical information
- US International Trade Administration: Rwanda business travel
- Government of Rwanda: Public holidays
Facts checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information.
