Public holidays in the six GCC countries
Shows the next public holiday in each country from today, followed by each country's full holiday table.
Next holiday in each country
UAE
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 day | — | Fri 1 Jan |
| Eid al-Fitr | 3–4 days | — | Tue 9 Mar – Thu 11 Mar (or Tue 9 Mar – Fri 12 Mar) · expected |
| Arafat Day | 1 day | — | Sat 15 May (or Sun 16 May) · expected |
| Eid al-Adha | 3 days | — | Sun 16 May – Tue 18 May (or Mon 17 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| Islamic New Year | 1 day | — | Sun 6 Jun · expected |
| Prophet's Birthday | 1 day | — | Sat 14 Aug (or Sun 15 Aug) · expected |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | 2 days | Wed 2 Dec – Thu 3 Dec | Thu 2 Dec – Fri 3 Dec |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: UAE public holidays.
Saudi Arabia
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founding Day | 1 day | — | Mon 22 Feb |
| Eid al-Fitr | 4 days | — | Tue 9 Mar – Fri 12 Mar · expected |
| Eid al-Adha (from Arafat Day) | 4 days | — | Sat 15 May – Tue 18 May (or Sun 16 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| National Day | 1 day | — | Thu 23 Sept |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: Saudi public holidays.
Qatar
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Sport Day | 1 day | — | Tue 9 Feb · expected |
| Eid al-Fitr | 3 days | — | Tue 9 Mar – Thu 11 Mar (or Wed 10 Mar – Thu 11 Mar; Sat 13 Mar) · expected |
| Eid al-Adha | 3 days | — | Sun 16 May – Tue 18 May (or Mon 17 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| National Day | 1 day | Fri 18 Dec | Sat 18 Dec |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: Qatar public holidays.
Kuwait
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 day | — | Fri 1 Jan |
| Isra and Mi'raj | 1 day | — | Tue 5 Jan; Sat 25 Dec (or Wed 6 Jan; Sun 26 Dec) · expected |
| National Day | 1 day | — | Thu 25 Feb |
| Liberation Day | 1 day | — | Fri 26 Feb |
| Eid al-Fitr | 3 days | — | Tue 9 Mar – Thu 11 Mar (or Wed 10 Mar – Fri 12 Mar) · expected |
| Arafat Day | 1 day | — | Sat 15 May (or Sun 16 May) · expected |
| Eid al-Adha | 3 days | — | Sun 16 May – Tue 18 May (or Mon 17 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| Islamic New Year | 1 day | — | Sun 6 Jun · expected |
| Prophet's Birthday | 1 day | — | Sat 14 Aug (or Sun 15 Aug) · expected |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: Kuwait public holidays.
Oman
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accession Day | 1 day | — | Mon 11 Jan · expected |
| Isra and Mi'raj | 1 day | — | Tue 5 Jan; Sat 25 Dec (or Wed 6 Jan; Sun 26 Dec) · expected |
| Eid al-Fitr (29 Ramadan to 3 Shawwal) | 4–5 days | — | Mon 8 Mar – Thu 11 Mar (or Mon 8 Mar – Fri 12 Mar) · expected |
| Eid al-Adha (9 to 12 Dhu al-Hijjah) | 4 days | — | Sat 15 May – Tue 18 May (or Sun 16 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| Islamic New Year | 1 day | — | Sun 6 Jun · expected |
| Prophet's Birthday | 1 day | — | Sat 14 Aug (or Sun 15 Aug) · expected |
| National Day | 2 days | Wed 25 Nov – Thu 26 Nov | Sat 20 Nov – Sun 21 Nov · expected |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: Oman public holidays.
Bahrain
| Holiday | Days | Rest of 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 day | — | Fri 1 Jan |
| Eid al-Fitr | 3 days | — | Tue 9 Mar – Thu 11 Mar (or Wed 10 Mar – Fri 12 Mar) · expected |
| Labour Day | 1 day | — | Sat 1 May |
| Eid al-Adha | 3 days | — | Sun 16 May – Tue 18 May (or Mon 17 May – Wed 19 May) · expected |
| Islamic New Year | 1 day | — | Sun 6 Jun · expected |
| Ashura (9-10 Muharram) | 2 days | — | Mon 14 Jun – Tue 15 Jun · expected |
| Prophet's Birthday | 1 day | — | Sat 14 Aug (or Sun 15 Aug) · expected |
| National Day and Accession Day | 2 days | Wed 16 Dec – Thu 17 Dec | Thu 16 Dec – Fri 17 Dec |
Details and pay for working on a holiday: Bahrain public holidays.
Hijri-based dates for 2027 are expected by the Umm al-Qura calendar and may shift by a day with moon sighting; each country announces its holidays by official decision. Government-sector holidays can differ in length from the private sector. For Ramadan and Eid dates see the Ramadan countdown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the next public holiday in the GCC?
In November and December 2026: Oman's National Day (holiday on 25–26 November), the UAE's Eid Al Etihad on 2–3 December, Bahrain's National Day on 16–17 December and Qatar's on 18 December. Then New Year's Day in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, Saudi Founding Day on 22 February 2027, and Kuwait's National and Liberation Days on 25–26 February.
How many days off for Eid al-Fitr 2027 in the GCC?
For the private sector: 4 days in Saudi Arabia, 4 in Oman (possibly 5) starting on 8 March, 3 in the UAE (4 if Ramadan completes 30 days), and 3 in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The first day of Eid is expected on Tuesday 9 March 2027 by the Umm al-Qura calendar.
Do workers get extra pay for working on a public holiday?
Yes in all six countries, at different rates: in the UAE a day's wage plus 50% of basic or a substitute day, in Saudi Arabia overtime pay or compensatory leave, and in Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar at rates set out on each country's page.
Sources
- UAE — Cabinet Resolution 27/2024 on official holidays (Arabic)
- Saudi Arabia — Labour Law Article 112 (English translation, HRDF)
- Qatar — text of Labour Law 14/2004 (Al Raya, Arabic)
- Kuwait — text of Labour Law 6/2010 (Al Anba, Arabic)
- Oman — Labour Law, Royal Decree 53/2023 (Arabic)
- Bahrain — Labour Law 36/2012 (Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Arabic)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.