Whether you’re living there or only visiting, Qatar has numerous holidays that you need to keep in mind. These can be a great opportunity to experience Qatari culture, sample local food, or simply have some time off work to relax.
Here’s what you need to know:
An overview of public holidays in Qatar
There are four official public holidays in Qatar. The most celebrated holiday is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. It begins the day after the sighting of the crescent moon, so the dates can only be estimated and may vary by a day or two.
![Red fireworks in the sky while cars whizz past on a highway in Doha to celebrate Eid al-Fitr](https://admin.expatica.com/qa/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/01/fireworks-doha.jpg)
There also tend to be celebratory events such as fireworks displays, circuses, and discount sales, and families and friends meet to exchange gifts. What’s more, employees are entitled to time off during this period, so it’s a great time to visit some Qatari festivals.
When are Qatar’s public holidays in 2025?
Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.
Date | Weekday | Holiday |
1–2 Jan 2025 | Wed–Thu | Solar New Year’s Day |
11 February 2025 | Tue | National Sports Day |
2 March 2025 | Sun | March bank holiday |
31 March – 2 April 2025 | Mon–Wed | Eid al-Fitr |
7–9 June 2025 | Sat–Mon | Eid al-Adha |
18 December 2025 | Thu | Qatar National Day |
Important dates in 2025
Alongside national holidays, you’ll want to make note of these other prominent dates in Qatar.
Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.
Date | Weekday | Occasion |
27 January 2025 | Mon | Lailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension) |
1 March 2025 | Sat | Start of Ramadan |
21 March 2025 | Fri | Mother’s Day |
26–27 March 2025 | Wed–Thu | Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) |
4–5 June 2025 | Wed–Thu | Start of Hajj season |
16 June 2025 | Mon | Father’s Day |
26 June 2025 | Thu | Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
When are Qatar’s public holidays in 2026?
Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.
Date | Weekday | Holiday |
1 Jan 2026 | Thu | Solar New Year’s Day |
10 February 2026 | Tue | National Sports Day |
1 March 2026 | Sun | March bank holiday |
20–22 March 2026 | Fri–Sun | Eid al-Fitr |
27–29 May 2026 | Wed–Fri | Eid al-Adha |
18 December 2026 | Fri | Qatar National Day |
Important dates in 2026
Some of these dates are subject to change since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.
Date | Weekday | Occasion |
15–16 January 2026 | Thu–Fri | Lailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension) (tentative date) |
18 February 2026 | Wed | Start of Ramadan (tentative date) |
21 March 2026 | Sat | Mother’s Day |
15–16 March 2026 | Sun–Mon | Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) (tentative date) |
26 May 2026 | Tue | Start of Hajj season (tentative date) |
16 June 2026 | Tue | Father’s Day |
16 June 2026 | Tue | Muharram (Islamic New Year) (tentative date) |
When were Qatar’s public holidays in 2024?
Date | Weekday | Holiday |
1 January 2024 | Mon | Solar New Year’s Day |
13 February 2024 | Tue | National Sports Day |
3 March 2024 | Sun | March bank holiday |
10–12 April 2024 | Wed–Fri | Eid al-Fitr |
16–18 June 2024 | Sun–Tue | Eid al-Adha |
6–7 November 2024 | Wed–Thu | Constitutional Referendum Holiday |
18–19 December 2024 | Wed–Thu | Qatar National Day |
Other important dates in 2024
Date | Weekday | Occasion |
6–7 February 2024 | Tue–Wed | Lailat al-Miraj (The Prophet’s Ascension) |
11 March 2024 | Mon | Start of Ramadan |
21 March 2024 | Thu | Mother’s Day |
5 April 2024 | Fri | Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power) |
14 June 2024 | Fri | Start of Hajj season |
16 June 2024 | Sun | Father’s Day |
7 July 2024 | Sun | Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
When are the school holidays in Qatar?
Want to know when your children have a day off? Discover more by reading our article on school holidays in Qatar.