This calendar lists all 14 notable dates in Qatar's 2026 year so you can plan leave and payroll at a glance. Of these, 6 are official public holidays and paid days off under the Labour Law (National Sports Day, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Qatar National Day), 2 are bank and financial-sector holidays, 2 are cultural observances, and 4 are astronomical season markers. The Type column shows exactly which dates are paid days off and which simply affect operations. Public holidays are governed by Qatar's Labour Law (Law No. 14 of 2004), with paid-holiday entitlements under Article 78 and holiday-work pay under Article 75, and all Islamic dates are confirmed by official moon sighting (Qatar Calendar House) closer to the time.
Holiday calendar 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day | Bank holiday (financial sector) |
| 10 Feb | Tuesday | National Sports Day | Public holiday (National) |
| 18 Feb | Wednesday | Ramadan Start (reduced 6-hour working day) | Observance |
| 1 Mar | Sunday | March Bank Holiday | Bank holiday (financial sector) |
| 20 Mar | Friday | Eid al-Fitr, subject to confirmation (lunar) | Public holiday (Religious) |
| 20 Mar | Friday | March Equinox | Season |
| 21 Mar | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday, subject to confirmation (lunar) | Public holiday (Religious) |
| 27 May | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), subject to confirmation (lunar) | Public holiday (Religious) |
| 28 May | Thursday | Eid al-Adha Holiday, subject to confirmation (lunar) | Public holiday (Religious) |
| 21 Jun | Sunday | June Solstice | Season |
| 23 Sep | Wednesday | September Equinox | Season |
| 18 Dec | Friday | Qatar National Day | Public holiday (National) |
| 21 Dec | Monday | December Solstice | Season |
| 31 Dec | Thursday | New Year's Eve | Observance |
Note: Only the 6 rows marked "Public holiday" are paid days off under the Qatar Labour Law. New Year's Day and the early-March bank holiday are observed by banks and financial institutions only (set by Qatar Central Bank), while equinoxes and solstices are astronomical markers, not days off.
How Qatar Holidays Impact Payroll and Leave Management?
Qatar's calendar is built around a small number of national days and two major Eid periods, with Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha each clustering several days off and often bridging into the Friday and Saturday weekend. During Eid especially, it feels like a grand celebration: people are on leave, travelling, and enjoying personal time. All of this brings changes in attendance, increased leave requests, and varied working arrangements which impact payroll accuracy and leave processes for both employers and employees.