Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
4 Nov
2013
1435
13 Nov 2013 13 Jan 2014
28 Jun 2014
28 Jul 2014 4 Oct 2014
25 Oct
2014
1436
3 Nov 2014
3 Jan 2015
17 Jun 2015
18 Jul 2015 23 Sep 2015
15 Oct
2015
1437
24 Oct 2015 24 Dec 2015
6 Jun 2016
7 Jul 2016 12 Sep 2016
3 Oct
2016
26 Jun
2017
1438
12 Oct 2016 12 Dec 2016
26 May 2017
1 Sep 2017
22 Sep
2017
16 Jun
2018
21 Aug
2018
1439
1 Oct 2017
1 Dec 2017
15 May 2018
Public Holidays
All Peninsula countries observe the main Islamic holidays listed below. Some of the Peninsula countries also observe
the Gregorian New Year (1 January). Every state has its own national days and other public holidays.
Islamic New Year
Also known as Ras as-Sana, it literally means 'the head of the year'.
Ashura
The anniversary of the martyrdom of Hussein, the third
imam
(religious teacher) of the Shiites.
Prophet's Birthday
Known as Moulid an-Nabi, it's 'the feast of the Prophet'.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Muslim calendar, this is when Muslims fast during daylight hours. How strictly the
fast is observed depends on the country, but most Muslims conform to some extent. Foreigners are not expected to fol-
low suit, but visitors should not smoke, drink or eat (including gum-chewing) in public during Ramadan. Hotels make
provision for guests by erecting screens for discreet dining. Business hours tend to become more erratic and usually
shorter and many restaurants close for the whole period. Alcohol is not available in Ramadan except as room service. As
the sun sets each day, the fast is broken with something light (like dates and
laban
) before prayers. Then comes
iftar
(breakfast), at which enough food is usually consumed to compensate for the previous hours of abstinence. People then
rise again before dawn to prepare a meal to support them throughout the day.
Eid al-Fitr
The festivities mark the end of Ramadan fasting; the celebrations last for three days and are a time of family
feasting and visiting.
Eid al-Adha
This feast marks the time that Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Islamic Calendar
Although most secular activities and day-to-day life are planned in the Peninsula according to the Gregorian calendar
(the Western system), all Islamic holidays are calculated according to the Muslim calendar. For visitors this can cause
confusion (such as when trying to decipher official documents, including the date of expiry of travel permits and visa).
Calendars showing parallel systems are available.
The Muslim year is based on the lunar cycle and is divided into 12 lunar months, each with 29 or 30 days. Conse-
quently, the Muslim year is 10 or 11 days shorter than the Christian solar year, and the Muslim festivals gradually move
around our year, completing the cycle in roughly 33 years.
Year zero in the Muslim calendar was when Mohammed and his followers fled from Mecca to Medina (AD 622 in the
Christian calendar). This Hejira, or migration, is taken to mark the start of the new Muslim era, much as Christ's birth
marks year zero in the Christian calendar. Just as BC denotes 'Before Christ', so AH denotes 'After Hejira'.
