His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued a Royal Decree this week that outlines and fixes official holidays in the Sultanate.

Article (1) of the Decree states that official holidays for units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus, public legal entities and establishments of the private sector – with regard to Eids and other occasions listed below – shall be fixed as follows:

(A) Hijri New Year’s Day to be on 1 Muharram;

(B) The Prophet’s Birthday to be on 12 Rabee Al Awwal;

(C) Al Isra’a Wal Miraj to be on 27 Rajab;

(D) The National Day to be on 18 and 19 November;

(E) His Majesty the Sultan’s Accession Day (January 11).

If any of the holidays coincide with the weekend, it shall be compensated by a single day. The dates of the abovementioned holidays may be amended if the public interest so dictates.

The Decree also stated:

(A) Eid Al Fitr starts on the 29th day of the month of Ramadan and continues until the 3rd day of the month of Shawwal.

(B) Eid Al Adha starts on 9 Dhul-Hijjah and continues until the 12th of the same month.

Friday shall be compensated if it coincides with the first day of any of the abovementioned Eids.

Article (2) cancels Royal Decree No. 56/2020 and all that contradicts this decree or contravenes its provisions.

Article (3) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced from the date of its issue.