Friday 20 / February / 2026
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is preparing for an extensive five-day long weekend to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
According to the unified holiday regulations, the break officially spans from the 29th day of Ramadan through the 3rd of Shawwal. For 2026, this period is expected to begin on Thursday, March 19, and run through Monday, March 23. This extended duration provides a significant opportunity for citizens and residents to travel, engage in family festivities, or enjoy a spring getaway to popular local destinations like Jebel Akhdar or Salalah.
The length of the 2026 holiday is part of a specific provision in Omani Labour Law which dictates that a compensatory day off must be granted if the first day of an official holiday coincides with a weekend. Since the first day of Eid Al Fitr is astronomically projected to fall on Friday, March 20, the workforce will receive an additional day of rest to ensure the holiday's full value is preserved. This legal framework ensures that the national holiday calendar remains predictable and beneficial for employees across both the public and private sectors, regardless of where the lunar cycle falls during the week.
Following the five-day break, the Ministry of Labour has scheduled the official resumption of work for Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The final confirmation of the break's start depends on the official moon sighting, which will be conducted by the Main Committee under the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. On the evening of Thursday, March 19, the committee will gather to search for the Shawwal crescent moon.
