What are public holidays in Kuwait 2024 ?
Kuwait- a rich and culturally vibrant country celebrates a number of festivals that reflect its traditions and religious beliefs. As we embark into Kuwait’s public holidays we find a calendar that depicts its historical significance and importance.Â
From celebrating the beginning of the year with extreme joy to celebrating religious festivals including Eid-al-Fitr, Arafat Day, and Islamic New Year, each public holiday holds its own importance in the Kuwait holiday calendar. In this blog, we will delve into a diverse tapestry of public holidays in Kuwait.Â
Read the full blog to deep dive into your understanding of Kuwait’s public holidays.Â
Here is the list of public holidays in Kuwait in 2024:
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
| 1 January, 24′Â | Monday | New Year |
| 25 February, 24′ | Sunday | Kuwait National Day |
| 26 February, 24′ | Monday | Kuwait Liberation Day |
| 8-10 April, 24′ | Monday-Wednesday | Eid-al-Fitr |
| 15-16 June, 24′ | Saturday-Sunday | Waqfat Arafat Day |
| 16-19 June, 24′ | Sunday-Wednesday | Eid-al-Adha |
| 6-7 July, 24′ | Saturday-Sunday | Islamic New Year |
| 15 September, 24′ | Sunday | Prophet’s Birthday |
Â
Here are the details of public holidays in Kuwait 2024:
New Year (January 1, 2024)
Kuwait marks December 31 and January 1 as public holidays on the occasion of the New Year. New Year’s Day is the first day of the year and it falls exactly one week after Christmas Day of the previous year. Road shows, parades, and fireworks are held around the country to celebrate it. The idea of a New Year’s celebration is a contemporary tradition that has its roots in British culture all over the country. Many people took the New Year as an opportunity to make new resolutions seeking a better and fresh start. The concept of New Year is nearly 4000 years old.
Kuwait Liberation Day (February 26,2024)
Every year on February 26th, Kuwait celebrates Kuwait Liberation Day. It is a day off for the general public and most of the businesses and corporations are inoperational on this day. This day marks the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991. There was a military operation prepared to retake the site from Iraq. Today Kuwait enjoys its position as a wealthy, safe and almost crime-free country. However, some foreigners doubt the safety in Kuwait because of the past incidents that happened in Kuwait. On this day, people come together at Kuwait Tower to express their gratitude and patriotism for their country. Â
Eid-al-Fitr (April 8-10, 2024)
Eid-al-Fitr falls on April 8-10 in Kuwait in 2024. For Muslims around the world, this date is regarded as one of the holy festivals. It is a day off for everyone around the world and most businesses and corporations are inoperational these days. It is also considered one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar. This festival marks the end of Ramadan(month of fasting) for Muslims worldwide. The exact date of Eid-al-Fitr varies in different countries as the date depends on the lunar cycle and the sighting of the moon. Muslims break their fast on Eid-al-Fitr, the “Festival of breaking the fast,” after a month of continuous fasting during Ramadan.Â
Waqfat Arafat Day (June 15-16, 2024)
Waqfat Arafat Day is a public holiday in the Kuwait region. It falls on June 15-16 2024 in Kuwait. Most businesses and corporations observe the holiday on this day. According to the Islamic calendar, it is observed on the ninth day of the month prior. The dates of Waqfat Arafat Day can vary in different countries as it depends on the lunar cycle of the moon. Waqfat Arafat Day holds the utmost importance in Islam as people believe that the prophet Muhammad gave his final sermons on Mount Arafat. On this day, which is also regarded in Islamic history as the Day of Forgiveness, people offer prayers to the Almighty. People fast and pray during the whole day.
Eid-al-Adah (June 16-19, 2024)
Eid-al-Adah is a public holiday in Kuwait. A large number of businesses and organizations are closed on this day, which is a holiday for the general population. It falls on the tenth day in the final month of the Islamic calendar. On this day, people celebrate by worshiping to the Almighty. On this day Muslims sacrifice sheep, goats or any other animal to the Almighty to honor their devotion. People also exchange best wishes by quoting “Eid-Mubarak” to each other. The distribution of food, clothes and money to the needy is also a key tradition of this festival. This festival holds the utmost importance in the Islamic calendarÂ
Islamic New Year (July 6-7, 2024)
Islamic New Year also known as Hirji New Year or Arabic New Year. It is the first day of Muharram. It is recognized as a public holiday in Kuwait and many other countries. This festival has a flourishing history of Muhammad who instructed his followers from Mecca to Medina (300 kilometers journey). The date of the Islamic New Year may vary in other countries as it is based on the lunar sighting of the moon. People also lit lanterns on this holy festival which signifies the month of Muharram. It is a time for reflection, prayers and contemplation. At Mosques, Muslims attend special prayers that are organized. Many Muslims also read and preach the holy teachings of the Quran on this day.
Prophet’s Birthday (September 15, 2024)
Every year on September 15, citizens celebrate the Prophet’s birthday. It is observed as a public holiday for both businesses and the general public. As the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles, the date of this festival may vary in other countries. Some Muslims also fast during this day which is another way to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday. As per the Islamic tradition, the 12th day of the Islamic calendar month of Rabi AL Awwal is the Prophet’s birthday. Additionally, religious talks and the teachings of the Quran are used to mark this occasion. The teachings of the Quran serve as a guide highlighting the teachings of an ideal life.Â
Summing Up
Thus, Kuwait celebrates all of these public holidays. On this day, almost all companies and institutions are closed.
All the above-mentioned public holidays are applicable in Kuwait. So if you are looking to plan your holidays and vacations with your near and dear ones you can use this calendar as a reference. Moreover, organizations and HR professionals can use the calendar to plan the holidays for their employees accordingly.Â
To manage the leaves and attendance of employees in your organization you can make use of the Zimyo leave and attendance management system which simplifies your tasks and provides you extra time to focus on more strategic activities. You can schedule a demo to streamline your HR tasks with Zimyo HRMS.
* The above mentioned dates are preliminary and subject to change. We will modify them upon receiving updates.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
The public holidays of Kuwait includes New Year, Eid-al-Fitr, Islamic New Year, Eid-al-Adha, Prophet’s Birthday, Kuwait National Day etc.
Weekends in Kuwait are held on Fridays and Saturdays. That is important for a number of reasons.
Official working days in Kuwait Sunday to Thursday & Friday -Saturday is weekend day’s.
Public holidays in Kuwait are celebrated with parades, road shows, rituals and prayers offered to the Almighty.