{"id":160447,"date":"2025-12-02T06:43:35","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T06:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zimyo.com\/middle-east\/?p=160447"},"modified":"2026-03-03T06:06:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T06:06:54","slug":"public-holidays-in-qatar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zimyo.com\/middle-east\/insights\/public-holidays-in-qatar\/","title":{"rendered":"Qatar Public Holidays in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Qatar’s public holidays reflect its cultural identity, Islamic values, and national pride. These holidays not only bring communities together but also serve as an opportunity for businesses to effectively schedule staffing, attendance, and operations. As HR professionals and employers plan for the year ahead, being aware of the\u00a0public holidays in Qatar 2026\u00a0helps to assure smooth workforce management,\u00a0timely\u00a0payroll management<\/a>, and improved employee well-being.\u00a0<\/p>

Whether you are a resident, an expatriate professional, or a manager of a team in Qatar, this guide\u00a0provides\u00a0a clear view of the upcoming holidays in Qatar for 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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List of Public Holidays in Qatar 2026 <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Date<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Day<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Holiday<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

1 January 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Thursday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

New Year\u2019s Day<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10 February 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Tuesday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

National Sports Day<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

20\u201322\u00a0March 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Friday- Sunday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Eid Al Fitr<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

27 May 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Wednesday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Arafat Day<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

27\u201329\u00a0May 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Wednesday\u2013Friday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Eid al Adha<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

18 December 2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Friday<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td>

Qatar National Day<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

*Note*<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Some public holidays in Qatar depend on lunar (Hijri) dates and may vary based on moon sighting.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Public Holidays in Qatar 2026 Detailed Breakdown <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Below given is the detailed description of the Qatar public holidays in 2026.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 New Year\u2019s Day (1 January 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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New Year’s Day is usually one of the public holidays in Qatar that marks the first day of the Gregorian year. While celebrations in Qatar are low-key, most residents enjoy community gatherings, outings, and retail festivities. It is also considered an opportunity for businesses to review annual planning, budgeting, and alignment with\u00a0employee performance<\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 National Sports Day (10 February 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Qatar is one of the few countries in the world that declares a national holiday in Qatar specifically for sports and physical wellness.\u00a0<\/span>Nationals<\/span>\u00a0Sports Day,\u00a0<\/span>observed<\/span>\u00a0on the second Tuesday of February, invites residents to engage in different fitness events, outdoor activities, and athletic programs. To the HR manager, it enhances wellness culture and reinforces employee engagement.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 Eid Al Fitr (20\u201322 March 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Eid Al Fitr signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The family gets together for prayer, feasting, Zakat, and celebration. Being one of the most important Islamic observances, it affords several days of holiday rest. For workplaces, this period often involves public holidays in Qatar with leave extensions, so forward planning helps to\u00a0<\/span>maintain<\/span>\u00a0coverage and continuity.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 Arafat Day (27 May 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Arafat Day is a spiritual day and is\u00a0observed\u00a0a day before\u00a0Eid al Adha. This public holidays in Qatar is of great religious significance when Muslims contemplate, pray, and worship in the most meaningful ways. It is a significant\u00a0public holiday in Qatar, on which both government and private sectors usually come to a standstill.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 Eid al Adha (27\u201329 May 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Also called the \u201cFestival of Sacrifice,\u201d Eid al Adha\u00a0 is another national holiday in Qatar celebrates Prophet Ibrahim\u2019s faith and submission to God. Families traditionally share meals and give to the poor. Many locals take time off or visit relatives during this time, so it is usually considered one of the major\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Qatar<\/a> holidays<\/span><\/span>. It is recommended that\u00a0organizations\u00a0plan for leave and coverage accordingly.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u2022 Qatar National Day (18 December 2026) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Qatar National Day Holiday is celebrated every year to commemorate the founding and unity of the country. The entire nation is embellished with fireworks, parades, cultural programs, and patriotic displays that reflect national heritage and pride. Qatar national day holiday, beyond celebration, strengthens community connection and reinforces the identity and resilience of Qatar.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Accurate, hassle-free attendance & leave management<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Why these holidays matter for employers & HR teams <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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These public holidays in Qatar are much more than days off, since they\u00a0impact\u00a0workforce planning, scheduling, payroll processing, and\u00a0employee engagement<\/a>. HR departments should:\u00a0<\/p>