Kuwait has 14 public holiday days in 2027: 3 fixed national holiday days and 11 Islamic holiday days that follow the lunar calendar. The next public holiday in Kuwait is New Year's Day on Friday, 1 January 2027.
Islamic holiday dates on this page are expected dates. Kuwait confirms each one by official moon sighting, so they can move by a day. We update this page as each date is announced.
Next public holiday in Kuwait
New Year's Day: Friday, 1 January 2027. It falls on the weekend, so watch for a Cabinet announcement on any day in lieu for government offices. Next after that: Isra and Mi'raj, expected Wednesday, 6 January 2027.
List of public holidays in Kuwait 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Hijri date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 | Friday | New Year's Day | – | Fixed |
| 6 Jan 2027 | Wednesday | Isra and Mi'raj | 27 Rajab 1448 | Tentative |
| 25 Feb 2027 | Thursday | National Day | – | Fixed |
| 26 Feb 2027 | Friday | Liberation Day | – | Fixed |
| 10–12 Mar 2027 | Wed–Fri | Eid al-Fitr (3 days) | 1–3 Shawwal 1448 | Tentative |
| 16 May 2027 | Sunday | Waqfat Arafat Day | 9 Dhul Hijjah 1448 | Tentative |
| 17–19 May 2027 | Mon–Wed | Eid al-Adha (3 days) | 10–12 Dhul Hijjah 1448 | Tentative |
| 6 Jun 2027 | Sunday | Islamic (Hijri) New Year | 1 Muharram 1449 | Tentative |
| 15 Aug 2027 | Sunday | Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) | 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1449 | Tentative |
| 26 Dec 2027 | Sunday | Isra and Mi'raj | 27 Rajab 1449 | Tentative |
Quick facts
- Weekend: Friday and Saturday
- Public holiday days in 2027: 14 (Isra and Mi'raj falls twice)
- Longest break: Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha, about six days off in mid-May
- Ramadan 2027: expected to begin around 8 February
Why Kuwait's Islamic holiday dates can change
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, where each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. The Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so these holidays arrive roughly 11 days earlier every year. That's also why Isra and Mi'raj falls twice in 2027, once in January and again in late December. Final dates are confirmed only shortly before each holiday.
Long weekends in Kuwait 2027
Based on the Friday–Saturday weekend and the expected dates above:
| Holiday | Expected break | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan | No extra day (falls on Friday) |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Wed 6 Jan | 1 (midweek) |
| National Day & Liberation Day | Thu 25 – Sat 27 Feb | 3 (Liberation Day falls on Friday) |
| Eid al-Fitr | Wed 10 – Sat 13 Mar | 4 |
| Arafat Day & Eid al-Adha | Fri 14 – Wed 19 May | 6 |
| Hijri New Year | Fri 4 – Sun 6 Jun | 3 |
| Prophet's Birthday | Fri 13 – Sun 15 Aug | 3 |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Fri 24 – Sun 26 Dec | 3 |
The Cabinet often adjusts these dates for government offices. In 2026 it gave Sunday 18 January off because Isra and Mi'raj fell on a Friday, and it moved the Prophet's Birthday holiday to Thursday 27 August to create a three-day weekend. Expect similar decisions in 2027, announced a week or two before each holiday. They apply to the public sector; private employers can choose whether to follow them.
Government vs private-sector holidays in Kuwait
Private-sector holidays are set by Article 68 of Kuwait's Private Sector Labour Law (Law No. 6 of 2010). In a typical year it grants 13 fully paid holiday days across nine occasions: Hijri New Year (1 day), Isra and Mi'raj (1), Eid al-Fitr (3), Waqfat Arafat (1), Eid al-Adha (3), the Prophet's Birthday (1), National Day (1), Liberation Day (1) and Gregorian New Year (1).
Government employees follow the holiday schedule announced by the Council of Ministers. That schedule can include longer Eid breaks and extra days in lieu, which don't automatically extend to private companies.
What private-sector employers need to know
- Working on a public holiday: An employee who has to work on an Article 68 holiday is entitled to double pay for that day plus a compensatory day off.
- Annual leave: Public holidays that fall during an employee's annual leave are not counted as leave days (Article 70).
- Weekly rest: The law requires a paid weekly rest of 24 continuous hours after six working days (Article 67). Many companies give Friday and Saturday, in line with the government week.
How employers can plan for Kuwait's 2027 holidays
Three stretches need the most planning in 2027: the National Day and Liberation Day weekend in late February, Eid al-Fitr in March (right after Ramadan), and the six-day Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha break in May. Plan shift cover and leave approvals early for these, and record any holiday work so compensatory days and double pay aren't missed.
Zimyo HRMS comes with Middle East public holidays pre-loaded for Kuwait and six other countries, so leave balances update without manual entry, and its attendance module calculates overtime automatically.
Related tool: the free Leave Encashment Calculator works out the cash value of unused annual leave for Kuwait employees.
Kuwait public holidays 2026 (recap)
All 2026 public holidays in Kuwait have now passed. Here's when they fell and the government breaks the Cabinet announced:
| Holiday | Date in 2026 | Government break |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu 1 Jan | Thu 1 – Sat 3 Jan |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Fri 16 Jan | Fri 16 – Sun 18 Jan (Sunday given in lieu) |
| National Day & Liberation Day | Wed 25 – Thu 26 Feb | Wed 25 – Sat 28 Feb |
| Eid al-Fitr | From Fri 20 Mar | Thu 19 – Mon 23 Mar |
| Arafat Day & Eid al-Adha | Tue 26 – Fri 29 May | Tue 26 – Sun 31 May |
| Islamic (Hijri) New Year | Tue 16 Jun | Tue 16 Jun |
| Prophet's Birthday | 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 | Moved to Thu 27 Aug; Thu 27 – Sat 29 Aug |
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays are there in Kuwait in 2027?
Kuwait has 14 public holiday days in 2027: 3 fixed national holiday days and 11 Islamic holiday days. Isra and Mi'raj falls twice in 2027, in January and again in December, because the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year.
When is the next public holiday in Kuwait?
The next public holiday in Kuwait is New Year's Day on Friday, 1 January 2027. After that comes Isra and Mi'raj, expected on Wednesday, 6 January 2027, subject to moon sighting.
What are the weekend days in Kuwait?
The weekend in Kuwait is Friday and Saturday. Government offices work Sunday to Thursday; private-sector working weeks vary by employer.
Is New Year's Day a public holiday in Kuwait?
Yes. 1 January is an official paid holiday under Article 68 of Kuwait's Private Sector Labour Law and is also a government holiday. In 2027, it falls on a Friday.
