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National day

Qatar National Day 2026

Qatar National Day falls on Friday 18 December 2026: the date in both calendars, what the official holiday rule says, and last year's days off, each with its source.

Read on the official sources on 3 October 2026.

Days to go

76

Friday 18 December 2026

9 Rajab 1448 AH

in 76 days

The date

The date
DayDateHijri (Umm al-Qura)
Qatar National DayFriday 18 December 20269 Rajab 1448 AH9 Rajab 1448 AH

Hijri dates are worked out on the Umm al-Qura calendar.

The public holiday

The days off for 2026 have not been announced yet.

Under the standing rule they would be: Friday 18 December 2026.

The standing rule

Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2025 makes 18 December a paid official holiday. It sets no rule for a holiday that falls on the weekend, and in 2026 the day is a Friday; the Amiri Diwan announces each year's arrangement.

  • Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal — Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2025: National Day on 18 December, a paid official holiday; its preamble cites Law No. 11 of 2007 · 25 November 2025

Last year, 2025

Thursday 18 December 2025 · 1 day

Thursday; work resumed on Sunday 21 December.

  • Qatar News Agency — Amiri Diwan: Thursday 18 December 2025 an official holiday, work resumes Sunday 21 December · 16 December 2025

Official events and fireworks

Gulf events calendar

No official event or fireworks display has been announced yet for Qatar National Day 2026.

Only events an official body has announced appear here — the government or its national day committee, the state news agency, or an official events calendar — each with its day, time, place and source.

What the day marks

Qatar's National Day, 18 December, is the anniversary of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani taking up rule in 1878, the founding of the state. Law No. 11 of 2007 made the day of his accession the State's National Day.

  • Qatar News Agency — National Day on 18 December, the founding of the state in 1878 by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani · 8 November 2025
  • Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal — Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2025: National Day on 18 December, a paid official holiday; its preamble cites Law No. 11 of 2007 · 25 November 2025

Questions

When is Qatar National Day 2026?
Friday 18 December 2026, which is 9 Rajab 1448 AH in the Umm al-Qura calendar.
Is Qatar National Day 2026 a public holiday?
The days off for 2026 have not been announced yet. Under the standing rule they would be: Friday 18 December 2026. Last year: Thursday 18 December 2025.
What does Qatar National Day commemorate?
Qatar's National Day, 18 December, is the anniversary of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani taking up rule in 1878, the founding of the state. Law No. 11 of 2007 made the day of his accession the State's National Day.
Are there fireworks or official events for Qatar National Day 2026?
None has been announced officially yet. This page adds each one, with its day, time and place, once an official body announces it.
Is there a day off when 18 December falls on a Friday?
Amiri Decision No. 57 of 2025 makes 18 December a paid official holiday and sets no rule for one that falls on the weekend. The Amiri Diwan announces each year's arrangement; this page adds it when it does.

Sources

Other Gulf national days

All national days