Oman will observe a two-day National Day public holiday on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026, the Ministry of Labour has confirmed. Joined to the Friday and Saturday weekend, it gives most employees a four-day break from 25 to 28 November.
The dates appear in the ministry’s annual statement on national and religious holidays, Times of Oman reported on 22 October. People Matters reported on 26 October that the two days apply to staff in both the public and private sectors.
Who is affected
Most employees in Oman, in government and private companies alike, will be off from Wednesday 25 November to Saturday 28 November. Work resumes on Sunday 29 November, according to the dates in the ministry’s calendar.
Oman’s weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, so the holiday runs straight into it with no gap days.
Details of the break
Dates at a glance
- Wednesday 25 November: National Day holiday
- Thursday 26 November: National Day holiday
- Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November: regular weekend
- Sunday 29 November: return to work
Not everyone will be off
When it published the 2026 calendar, the ministry said that government departments and private companies that must keep services running still have to observe the holiday schedule. Employees asked to work through the holiday must be compensated under the existing regulations.
Staff in healthcare, hospitality, retail, security and other round-the-clock sectors should check with their employer how shifts and compensation will be handled.
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Schools
Families with children in private or international schools should watch for school notices. Schools normally follow the official holiday, but each one confirms its own term dates and any make-up days.
Why the dates were known early
The dates have been public for some time. Times of Oman reported in late December 2025 that the Ministry of Labour had published the full 2026 calendar, with National Day already listed for 25 and 26 November.
This follows a Council of Ministers policy of announcing official holidays at the start of each Gregorian year. The aim is to let government bodies and private companies plan work schedules and avoid clashes with local and international events.
The two Eids are the exception. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are left off the advance calendar because their dates depend on the moon. They are confirmed only after the committee responsible for sighting the start of each Hijri month makes its announcement.
The rest of the 2026 calendar
The other public holidays on this year’s calendar have already passed. Sultan’s Accession Day fell on 15 January, Al Isra’a Wal Mi’raj on 18 January, the Hijri New Year on 18 June and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday on 27 August.
That makes the National Day break the last fixed public holiday of 2026.
What to do next
Most residents can treat the break as a long weekend. It suits a short trip within Oman, a drive to the UAE or a flight further afield.
Demand for flights, hotels and border crossings usually rises around Gulf national holidays, including the UAE’s National Day long weekend a week later, so booking early makes sense.
Celebrations usually start in the days before the holiday, with flags and lights going up on streets and buildings across the governorates. Official events and any traffic arrangements are usually announced closer to the date.
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FAQs
When is the Oman National Day holiday in 2026?
It falls on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November 2026, according to the Ministry of Labour. Together with the Friday and Saturday weekend, the break runs from 25 to 28 November.
Does the holiday apply to the private sector?
Yes. The Ministry of Labour says the two days apply to employees in both the public and private sectors, as reported by People Matters on 26 October. Organisations that must keep services running still observe the schedule, and staff who work must be compensated under existing regulations.
When do people go back to work?
Most employees return on Sunday 29 November 2026. Oman’s weekend is Friday and Saturday, so the holiday leads straight into it.
Is National Day the last public holiday of 2026 in Oman?
It is the last fixed public holiday on the 2026 calendar. Eid dates are not on the advance calendar because they depend on moon sighting and are confirmed separately.
