Oman Announces Five-Day Eid Al Fitr Holiday for 2026
Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman is preparing for an extended five-day holiday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid Al Fitr in 2026.
According to the unified holiday regulations, the official break will span from the 29th day of Ramadan through the 3rd of Shawwal. For 2026, the holiday is expected to commence on Thursday, March 19, and continue until Monday, March 23, offering citizens and residents a long weekend to celebrate with family, travel, or explore popular domestic destinations.
The extended duration of the holiday is in line with provisions of Omani Labour Law, which stipulate that a compensatory day off must be granted if the first day of an official holiday coincides with a weekend. Astronomical projections indicate that the first day of Eid Al Fitr is likely to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026. As Friday is part of the weekend in Oman, employees across the public and private sectors will receive an additional day of rest to preserve the full benefit of the holiday.
This legal framework ensures consistency and predictability in the national holiday calendar, safeguarding employees’ entitlements regardless of the lunar calendar’s alignment with the workweek.
The Ministry of Labour has confirmed that official work will resume on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, following the conclusion of the five-day break.
However, the final confirmation of Eid Al Fitr and the commencement of the holiday period will depend on the official moon sighting. The Main Committee under the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs is scheduled to convene on the evening of Thursday, March 19, to observe the Shawwal crescent moon and formally announce the start of Eid.
