Arab Public Holidays
Complete Guide to Public Holidays in Arab Countries
Official Calendar
Complete Guide to Islamic Holidays, National Days & Work Schedule in Oman
| Holiday | Date | Day | Hijri date | Days off | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isra and Mi'raj Expected | Tuesday | 27 Rajab 1448 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Sultan's Accession Day | Monday | 3 Shaban 1448 AH | 1 day | National | |
| Eid al-Fitr Expected | Tuesday | 1 Shawwal 1448 AH | 3 days (9 March – 11 March) | Religious | |
| Arafat Day Expected | Saturday | 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Eid al-Adha Expected | Sunday | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH | 3 days (16 May – 18 May) | Religious | |
| Islamic New Year Expected | Sunday | 1 Muharram 1449 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Prophet's Birthday Expected | Saturday | 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1449 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Oman National Day | Saturday | 21 Jumada al-Akhirah 1449 AH | 2 days (20 November – 21 November) | National |
Weekend days: Friday and Saturday
Note: Religious holiday dates may vary based on moon sighting and could change by one day. Please check official sources for confirmation.
Plan your vacations! There are 4 long weekends this year where public holidays connect with regular weekend days.
5 days off 9 March – 13 March
Eid al-Fitr
5 days off 14 May – 18 May
Arafat Day + Eid al-Adha
3 days off 4 June – 6 June
Islamic New Year
3 days off 19 November – 21 November
Oman National Day
Public holiday Weekend
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 — Isra and Mi'raj | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 — Sultan's Accession Day | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 — Eid al-Fitr | 10 — Eid al-Fitr | 11 — Eid al-Fitr | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 — Arafat Day |
| 16 — Eid al-Adha | 17 — Eid al-Adha | 18 — Eid al-Adha | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 — Islamic New Year | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 — Prophet's Birthday |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 — Oman National Day |
| 21 — Oman National Day | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Oman's public holiday calendar reflects the sultanate's distinct identity and its blend of national pride with Islamic tradition. National Day was held on 18 November, the birthday of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, until 2020; it is now celebrated on 20 November, commemorating the founding of the Al Busaidi state in 1744. Following Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's accession in January 2020, the Royal Accession Day has also been observed as a national occasion. Islamic religious holidays include Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, and the Prophet's Birthday, confirmed through official moon sighting. Oman tends to observe slightly fewer public holidays than some Gulf neighbours, maintaining a predictable annual calendar that benefits businesses and residents alike. Oman's economy is anchored by oil and gas, tourism, ports, and manufacturing, with the work week running Sunday through Thursday and the weekend on Friday and Saturday. Islamic holidays shift annually according to the lunar Hijri calendar, with dates officially confirmed shortly before each occasion.
Official source: Government of Oman
Isra and Mi'raj, on 27 Rajab, commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to the heavens. In Oman it is an official day off, sometimes moved to the start or end of the working week.
11 January marks the anniversary of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's accession to the throne of Oman in 2020. The day off may be moved within the week.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and falls on 1 Shawwal in the Hijri calendar. Families attend the Eid prayer in the morning, visit relatives and exchange gifts, and children traditionally receive Eidiya money. The exact start is confirmed by moon sighting, so the date can move by one day. See Eid 2027 dates for all Arab countries.
Arafat Day falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, when pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat for the most important rite of the Hajj. Many Muslims who are not on pilgrimage fast on this day. It immediately precedes Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, begins on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day after pilgrims stand at Mount Arafat during the Hajj. Muslims perform the Eid prayer and many sacrifice a sheep or other livestock, sharing the meat with family, neighbours and those in need. It is the longest public holiday of the year in most Arab countries. See Eid 2027 dates for all Arab countries.
The Islamic New Year (Ras al-Sana al-Hijriya) falls on 1 Muharram and marks the start of a new Hijri year, commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is a quiet, reflective holiday rather than a festive one.
Al-Mawlid al-Nabawi commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on 12 Rabi al-Awwal. In Oman it is an official holiday, often marked with religious lectures, poetry recitals in praise of the Prophet and traditional sweets.
Oman National Day on 20 November celebrates the founding of the Al Busaidi state in 1744. The days off are set each year by royal decree and can fall later in the month.
Oman has 8 public holidays in 2027: 2 national and 6 religious, adding up to about 13 days off.
Eid al-Fitr in Oman is expected on Tuesday, 9 March 2027 (1 Shawwal 1448 AH), with 3 days off (9 March to 11 March). The date may shift by one day depending on moon sighting.
Eid al-Adha in Oman is expected on Sunday, 16 May 2027 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH), with 3 days off (16 May to 18 May). The date may shift by one day depending on moon sighting.
The official weekend in Oman is Friday and Saturday.
There are 4 long weekends where public holidays connect with the weekend. The longest is 5 days, from 9 March to 13 March.