Oman has seven public holiday occasions in 2026, confirmed by the Ministry of Labour: Accession Day, Al Isra Wal Miraj, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, the Islamic New Year, the Prophet’s Birthday and National Day. They apply to government and private sector employees alike. The official 2026 dates are below, followed by the expected 2027 calendar.
Next public holiday in Oman: National Day
Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026. With the Friday–Saturday weekend, that makes a four-day break from 25 to 28 November. Work resumes on Sunday 29 November.
Oman Public Holidays 2026: Official Dates
| Public holiday | Date(s) off | Day(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Accession Day | 15 January | Thursday |
| Al Isra Wal Miraj | 18 January | Sunday |
| Eid Al Fitr | 19–23 March | Thursday–Monday |
| Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha | 26–30 May | Tuesday–Saturday |
| Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) | 18 June | Thursday |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Milad Al Nabi) | 27 August | Thursday |
| National Day | 25–26 November | Wednesday–Thursday |
Several of these days off differ from the date of the occasion itself. Since 2026, Oman announces its national and religious holidays at the start of each Gregorian year, with the two Eids confirmed separately after the moon sighting. Most 2026 holidays were placed on a Thursday or Sunday, next to the Friday–Saturday weekend. That is why National Day, which marks 20 November, is observed on 25 and 26 November this year.
Expected Public Holidays in Oman 2027
Oman has not published its 2027 calendar yet. Going by 2026, the list should arrive in late December, and the Eid breaks a few days before each Eid. The table shows when each occasion is expected to fall; the actual day off can move, as it did in 2026.
| Holiday | Expected occasion date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Al Isra Wal Miraj | Around 5–6 January | 27 Rajab 1448 |
| Accession Day | 11 January (Monday) | Observed day may shift |
| Eid Al Fitr | Around 9–10 March | Multi-day break; moon sighting |
| Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha | Around 15–17 May | Multi-day break; moon sighting |
| Islamic New Year | Around 6 June | 1 Muharram 1449 |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Around 14–15 August | 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1449 |
| National Day | 20 November (Saturday) | Falls on the weekend; days off to be announced |
| Al Isra Wal Miraj | Around 25–26 December | Falls a second time in 2027 |
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8–9 February, so the reduced Ramadan working hours that Oman announces each year will cover most of February and early March.
Oman Public Holidays Explained
Accession Day
Marks His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s accession to the throne on 11 January 2020. It is a national holiday for all sectors. In 2026 the day off was Thursday 15 January.
Al Isra Wal Miraj
Commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey from Makkah to Jerusalem and his ascension, observed on 27 Rajab. Because the Islamic year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, it falls twice in 2027: in early January and again in late December.
Eid Al Fitr
Marks the end of Ramadan and, with Eid Al Adha, is one of Oman’s two longest breaks of the year. In 2026, the holiday ran for five days, from Thursday 19 to Monday 23 March. Ahead of it, the Ministry of Labour asked private employers to pay March salaries early, by 18 March.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha
Arafat Day falls on 9 Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid Al Adha, and Oman includes it in the Eid break. The 2026 holiday ran from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 May, and employers were again asked to pay salaries before the break, by 25 May.
Islamic New Year
The first day of Muharram, which opens the Hijri calendar year. It was observed on Thursday 18 June in 2026 and is expected around 6 June in 2027.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Milad Al Nabi)
Observed on 12 Rabi Al Awwal, and also known as Milad un Nabi or, among many South Indian residents, Nabidinam. It is a paid public holiday in Oman; the 2026 day off was Thursday 27 August, and the 2027 occasion is expected around 14–15 August.
Oman National Day
National Day marks the founding of the Al Bu Said dynasty, which has ruled Oman since 1744, and was previously celebrated on 18 November. It is the most festive holiday of the year, with flags, parades and fireworks across the country. In 2027, 20 November falls on a Saturday, so the days off are likely to be set on nearby working days when the calendar is announced.
Public Holidays in Oman for Private Sector Employees and Employers
Oman’s holiday announcements cover the State Administrative Apparatus and private sector establishments together, so private sector staff get the same days off as government employees. Public holidays are paid at the normal wage and do not count against annual leave.
An employer can ask staff to work on a public holiday when operations require it. When announcing the 2026 Eid Al Fitr break, the Ministry of Labour confirmed this is allowed as long as employees are compensated under the regulations in force. The Labour Law (Royal Decree 53/2023) provides for additional pay or a compensatory day off; check the exact entitlement against the law and the employment contract before running payroll.
For HR and payroll teams, the practical work around each holiday is predictable:
- Lock the annual holiday calendar as soon as the Ministry publishes it, then add the Eid breaks when they are confirmed.
- Bring payroll forward before each Eid, as the Ministry requested for both Eids in 2026, and build the earlier date into your WPS cut-offs.
- Plan rosters and approve leave early for operational roles that cannot close for a full Eid break, and record holiday work so compensation is paid correctly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next public holiday in Oman?
The next public holiday is National Day, on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026. Combined with the weekend, it gives a four-day break, and work resumes on Sunday 29 November.
Is Oman National Day on 20 November or 25 November?
National Day itself is 20 November. In 2026, the official days off are 25 and 26 November, because the government sets the observed dates in its annual holiday calendar.
How many public holidays does Oman have in 2026?
Oman has seven public holiday occasions in 2026. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha each run for five days, partly overlapping the weekend, National Day is two days, and the other four are single days.
Do private sector employees in Oman get the same public holidays?
Yes. The Ministry of Labour’s holiday announcements apply to both public sector bodies and private sector establishments.
What are the weekend days in Oman?
The weekend in Oman is Friday and Saturday, with Sunday the first working day of the week.
Can an employer ask staff to work on a public holiday in Oman?
Yes, if work requires it, but the employee must be compensated under the Labour Law, either through additional pay or a compensatory day off.
When will Oman announce the 2027 public holidays?
The 2026 calendar was announced on 28 December 2025, so the 2027 list is expected in late December 2026. The two Eid holidays are confirmed separately, usually a few days before each Eid.
