Qatar Public Holidays and Holiday Work Pay
The next holiday is shown first; then calculate what you are owed if you work on a holiday.
Pay for working on a public holiday
Public holidays in Qatar: 2026 and 2027
| 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 |
Pay for working on a holiday
A worker who works on a public holiday is covered by Article 74 (Article 78): the basic hourly wage plus at least 25%, and 50% for hours between 9 pm and 3 am except for shift workers, on top of salary. The law provides no substitute day. We calculate the hourly wage as basic ÷ 30 ÷ 8.
Example: basic QR 6,000 (QR 25 an hour), working 8 hours on Eid: 8 × 25 × 1.25 = QR 250. If 4 of those hours are between 9 pm and 3 am: 150 + 125 = 275.
Holidays that fall on a Friday
There is no express rule, but Article 78 counts holidays as working days, so a Friday inside an Eid most likely does not count towards the three days. The employer sets its own three days, which may include National Sport Day.
Government sector
The government Eid al-Fitr holiday runs from 28 Ramadan to the end of 4 Shawwal, Eid al-Adha from 9 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, National Day on 18 December, and National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February. The original text of Article 78 says Independence Day; the ministry gives the private sector 18 December.
Eid dates are expected and may move by a day depending on the moon sighting; the Ministry of Labour announces the private-sector holiday before each Eid.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does the private sector get in Qatar?
10 working days a year: 3 for Eid al-Fitr, 3 for Eid al-Adha, one for National Day and 3 set by the employer (Article 78). The Ministry of Labour also declared National Sport Day a private-sector holiday in 2026.
When is Qatar National Day in 2026?
Friday 18 December 2026. Because Article 78 counts holidays as working days, another working day may be given instead; the Ministry of Labour usually announces this in mid-December.
How much is pay for working on a public holiday in Qatar?
Article 74 applies: the basic hourly wage + at least 25%, and + 50% for hours between 9 pm and 3 am except for shift workers, with no substitute day in the text. Example: basic QR 6,000 and 8 hours = QR 250.
How long are Eid holidays for the government in Qatar?
Eid al-Fitr from 28 Ramadan to the end of 4 Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha from 9 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, with a working day between two holidays added, under the Cabinet decision published in 2025.
Sources
- Al Raya — text of Labour Law 14/2004 (Article 78, Arabic)
- The Peninsula — National Day holiday for the private sector (16/12/2025)
- The Peninsula — Eid al-Fitr 2026 holiday for the private sector
- Qatar Tribune — National Sport Day a private-sector holiday (9/2/2026)
- Gulf Times — official holidays for the government (19/5/2025)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.