Guides / Daily life / Public holidays

Public holidays in Qatar: dates, private sector rules and pay

Qatar's official holidays, how many paid days private-sector employees get under the Labour Law, how this differs from government, what you should be paid if you work on a holiday, and the dates for 2026 and 2027.

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

Private sector
At least 10 paid days a year under Article 78: 3 + 3 for the Eids, 1 for National Day, 3 chosen by the employer
Government
Longer Eid breaks, announced by the Amiri Diwan each time
Fixed dates
National Day 18 December; National Sport Day second Tuesday of February
Moving dates
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, confirmed by moon sighting a few days before

Qatar has a short list of official holidays: Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Adha during the Hajj season, National Day on 18 December and National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February, plus a bank-only holiday on the first Sunday of March. How many days off you actually get depends on who you work for. Government staff usually get about a week for each Eid, while private-sector employees are entitled under the Labour Law to 3 paid days for each Eid, 1 for National Day and 3 more chosen by the employer. The two Eid dates follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they move about 11 days earlier each year and are only confirmed a few days before, after the moon is sighted. This guide explains the rules in order: what the holidays are, what you are entitled to, what happens if you work or if a holiday lands on your day off, and how banks, schools and Ramadan fit in.

Before you start

  • Your employment contract and company handbook, to see which holidays your employer gives and how it pays holiday work
  • The name of the HR person or manager who confirms holiday dates at your company
  • A note of which law covers you: the Labour Law (most private-sector staff), government HR rules, or the separate law for domestic workers
  • Your annual leave balance, if you plan to stretch an Eid break into a longer trip
  • A simple record of any days and hours you work on a public holiday (dates, start and finish times, who asked you)
  • Your children's school calendar, as private schools can differ slightly from government schools on some dates
  • Official news sources to follow for announcements: QNA, the Amiri Diwan, the Ministry of Labour and Qatar Central Bank

Step by step

  1. Know the official holidays

    Qatar's official holidays are Eid al-Fitr (at the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (during the Hajj season), National Day on 18 December and National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February. Banks and financial institutions also close on the first Sunday of March, which is a bank-only holiday under Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2025. Days that are holidays in other countries, such as 1 January or the Islamic New Year, are not on Qatar's official list, so expect a normal working day unless your employer says otherwise. The Eid dates follow the lunar calendar and move about 11 days earlier every year.

  2. Work out which rules apply to you

    Holiday rules depend on your employer. Ministries and public bodies follow government holiday rules, and their dates are announced by the Amiri Diwan. Most private companies follow the Labour Law (Law No. 14 of 2004), and the Ministry of Labour (MOL) announces how holidays apply to them. Domestic workers are covered by a separate law (Law No. 15 of 2017), so they should check their contract, and banks follow dates set by Qatar Central Bank (QCB). If you work for a semi-government company, ask HR which set of dates it follows, because some follow the government calendar.

    Read guide: Working hours, overtime pay and weekly rest in Qatar →

  3. Know your private-sector entitlement

    Article 78 of the Labour Law gives every employee, however long they have worked there, holidays on full pay: 3 working days for Eid al-Fitr, 3 working days for Eid al-Adha, 1 working day for National Day, and 3 working days chosen by the employer. That makes at least 10 paid holiday days a year, on top of your annual leave. In February 2026 the MOL also declared National Sport Day an official holiday for private-sector employees under the Labour Law. These are minimums, so your contract or company policy can give you more, but never less.

    Read guide: Annual leave, sick leave and leave salary in Qatar →

  4. Understand why government breaks are longer

    Under a Cabinet decision approved by the Amir in 2025, the government Eid al-Fitr holiday runs from the 28th of Ramadan to the end of the 4th of Shawwal, and Eid al-Adha from the 9th to the end of the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Weekends and single working days that fall between holidays are added in, which is why ministries often get about a week. For example, in 2026 government staff were off from 17 to 23 March for Eid al-Fitr and from 26 to 30 May for Eid al-Adha. Private companies are not required to match this, so do not book travel based on news headlines about the government holiday.

  5. Watch for the official announcement

    Eid dates depend on the sighting of the new moon, so they are confirmed only a few days before. The Amiri Diwan announces the government holiday, the MOL announces the private-sector holiday, and the QCB Governor sets dates for banks and financial institutions. All three are reported straight away by QNA, The Peninsula, Gulf Times and Qatar Tribune. Astronomical forecasts are usually right to within a day, so they are fine for rough planning, but keep a day or two of flexibility.

  6. Get your company's dates in writing

    The law gives you 3 paid days for each Eid, but your employer decides exactly which days they are, and also picks the 3 extra days. Many companies use the extra days to lengthen an Eid break or to cover a day the government gives off. Ask HR to confirm by email which days you are off and when you are expected back. This avoids disputes later about absence or pay, especially if you are travelling.

  7. Check what happens if a holiday falls on your day off

    Article 78 describes the holidays as working days, which means they are meant to be days you would otherwise have worked. Friday is the legal weekly rest day for most workers, so if one of your Eid or National Day days falls on a Friday, many employers give an extra working day off instead. The law's wording here is short and practice varies, so ask HR how your company handles it. This matters in 2026, when National Day (18 December) falls on a Friday.

  8. If you work on a holiday, claim the right pay

    Some jobs, such as hospitals, hotels, security and retail, must keep running during holidays. Article 78 says that if you are required to work on one of your holiday days, the rest-day rules in Article 75 apply: you should get another day off in its place, plus pay for the day you worked, which the law sets at your normal rest-day wage or your basic wage plus at least 150%. The MOL's own holiday announcements also remind employers that overtime and allowance rules (Article 74) apply to holiday work. Keep a record of the hours you worked and check that the extra pay and replacement day appear on your payslip.

    Read guide: Working hours, overtime pay and weekly rest in Qatar →

  9. Plan around banks and government offices

    Banks follow QCB dates, which can differ slightly from both the government and private-sector dates. For Eid al-Fitr 2026, for example, financial institutions closed from 19 to 23 March and reopened on 24 March. Banks also close on the first Sunday of March and on National Sport Day. Government service centres close for the whole government holiday, so renew your QID, visas or Istimara before a long break, and remember that many routine services are available in the Metrash app even when offices are closed.

    Read guide: Metrash: registering and using Qatar's Ministry of Interior app →

  10. Factor in Ramadan

    Eid al-Fitr comes straight after Ramadan, so the month before it has its own routine. Working hours are shorter during Ramadan, many offices and shops change their hours, and daytime eating and drinking in public is not allowed. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March 2027, but these dates will only be confirmed by moon sighting. See the Ramadan guide for working hours and etiquette.

    Read guide: Ramadan in Qatar: what changes for residents →

  11. Check the school calendar

    The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) sets one academic calendar for 2025 to 2028 that applies to government and private schools, and fixes the mid-year break in the last third of December for everyone. For 2026 to 2027, students returned on 30 August 2026, the mid-term break is 25 to 29 October 2026, the winter break starts on 20 December 2026 with students back on 4 January 2027, and there is a long weekend on 31 March and 1 April 2027. Schools also close for the Eid holidays and National Day. Private schools follow their own calendar within these rules, so always check your school's published dates.

    Read guide: Choosing a school in Qatar: curricula, fees and admission →

  12. Raise it if holidays are not given or paid

    Holidays under the Labour Law cannot be taken out of your annual leave, and they must be paid in full. If you were refused a holiday, had it deducted from your leave, or were not paid correctly for holiday work, first ask HR in writing to explain. If that does not fix it, you can file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour. Keep copies of your contract, payslips and your record of the days worked.

    Read guide: Filing a labour complaint in Qatar: unpaid salary and other disputes →

Common mistakes

  • Booking flights based on the government Eid holiday, when private-sector staff are only guaranteed 3 paid days
  • Assuming the Eid date before the moon-sighting announcement and having no flexibility for a one-day shift
  • Not asking HR in writing which days are your Eid days and which are the employer's 3 chosen days
  • Accepting that a public holiday has been taken out of your annual leave balance
  • Working on a holiday without keeping a record, then having nothing to show if the extra pay or replacement day is missing
  • Leaving a QID, visa or Istimara renewal until just before Eid, when government offices close for about a week
  • Forgetting that banks also close on the first Sunday of March, and planning a branch visit or large transfer for that day

Questions people ask

How many public holidays do private-sector employees get in Qatar?

Article 78 of the Labour Law gives at least 10 paid days a year: 3 working days for Eid al-Fitr, 3 for Eid al-Adha, 1 for National Day and 3 chosen by the employer. In 2026 the Ministry of Labour also declared National Sport Day an official holiday for the private sector. Your contract can give more but not less.

Why do government employees get a week off for Eid and I only get 3 days?

Government staff follow a separate Cabinet decision that sets longer Eid holidays (from the 28th of Ramadan to the 4th of Shawwal, and from the 9th to the 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah), with weekends added in. Private companies follow the Labour Law, which guarantees 3 working days for each Eid. Many employers give extra days, but they are not required to match the government.

Is National Sport Day a holiday for private companies?

Yes, in 2026 the Ministry of Labour declared National Sport Day (Tuesday 10 February 2026) an official holiday for private-sector employees under the Labour Law. It falls on the second Tuesday of February each year, so in 2027 it is expected on Tuesday 9 February. Watch for the Ministry's announcement each year and check with HR.

What are the public holiday dates for 2026 and 2027?

2026: National Sport Day Tuesday 10 February; bank holiday Sunday 1 March; Eid al-Fitr Friday 20 March; Eid al-Adha Wednesday 27 May; National Day Friday 18 December. 2027 (Eid dates approximate and subject to moon sighting): National Sport Day Tuesday 9 February; bank holiday Sunday 7 March; Ramadan from about 8 February; Eid al-Fitr about 9 or 10 March; Eid al-Adha about 16 or 17 May; National Day Saturday 18 December.

My employer asked me to work during Eid. What should I get?

Article 78 says the rest-day rules in Article 75 apply: another day off in place of the holiday, plus pay for the day worked (your normal rest-day wage, or your basic wage plus at least 150%). The Ministry of Labour's Eid announcements also say overtime and allowance rules apply to holiday work. Ask HR to show how your pay was calculated if it looks low.

Eid or National Day falls on a Friday. Do I lose that holiday?

The Labour Law describes these holidays as working days, so a Friday that is already your rest day should not normally use up a holiday day. Many employers give an extra working day off in that case, but practice differs and the law does not spell out the detail. Ask HR in writing how your company handles it.

Can my employer take Eid off my annual leave?

No. Public holidays under Article 78 are a separate entitlement from your annual leave under Article 79. If an Eid holiday falls inside a period of annual leave, check your company policy, as many employers add the holiday days back to your leave balance.

Are banks open during Eid?

Banks close for Eid on dates set by the Qatar Central Bank, which can differ from the government and private-sector dates. For Eid al-Fitr 2026 they closed from 19 to 23 March. Banks also close on National Sport Day and on the first Sunday of March, while ATMs and online and mobile banking usually keep working.

Official sources

Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.

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