Public Holidays in Kuwait 2025 – National & Religious Days
Kuwait observes a range of public holidays combining national commemorations and Islamic religious observances. Because many Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar, their exact Gregorian dates can shift based on moon sightings. Government and bank holidays are published officially (e.g., NBK bank holiday list).
Overview of Kuwait’s Public Holidays
National holidays in Kuwait include National Day (February 25) and Liberation Day (February 26). Islamic holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year), Arafat Day, Isra and Miraj, and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday are also observed. Banks in Kuwait may also publish a bank holiday list indicating in-lieu and “falls between” days.
List of Public Holidays in Kuwait (2025)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Remarks / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Gregorian New Year |
| January 2 | Thursday | New Year’s Day Holiday (in-lieu) | “Falls between weekend and holiday” (bank schedule) |
| January 27 | Monday | Isra and Miraj (tentative) | Islamic observance — Night Journey & Ascension |
| January 30 | Thursday | Isra and Miraj Holiday | Extended observance (banks / government) |
| February 25 | Tuesday | National Day | Celebration of Kuwait’s national identity |
| February 26 | Wednesday | Liberation Day | Commemoration of liberation after Gulf War |
| February 27 | Thursday | National & Liberation Day Holiday (in-lieu) | Compensatory “falls between” day |
| March 30 | Sunday | Eid al-Fitr (1st Day) | End of Ramadan |
| March 31 | Monday | Eid al-Fitr (2nd Day) | Second day of festival |
| April 1 | Tuesday | Eid al-Fitr (3rd Day) | Third day of festival |
| June 5 | Thursday | Arafat Day | Day before Eid al-Adha |
| June 6 | Friday | Eid al-Adha (1st Day) | Feast of Sacrifice begins |
| June 7 | Saturday | Eid al-Adha Holiday | Continuation |
| June 8 | Sunday | Eid al-Adha Holiday | Continuation |
| June 9 | Monday | Eid al-Adha Holiday (in-lieu) | Compensatory day for weekend overlap |
| June 26 | Thursday | Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) | First day of Muharram |
| September 4 | Thursday | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid) | Birth of the Prophet |
Notes & Observations
• Islamic holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hijri New Year, Arafat Day, Isra and Miraj, Prophet’s Birthday) depend on the lunar calendar and official moon sighting.
• When a holiday “falls between” weekend and another holiday, an in-lieu public holiday is sometimes declared (per bank holiday listings).
• NBK and other banks publish bank holiday schedules that may include additional in-lieu designations.
• Dates may change subject to official announcements or moon sightings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many public holidays does Kuwait have in 2025?
Kuwait has around 15–20 public holidays in 2025, including national days and religious observances.
Why do some holidays show “in-lieu / falls between” days?
When a holiday aligns between a weekend and another holiday, an extra compensatory public holiday may be declared.
Are the Islamic holiday dates final in advance?
No. Islamic holiday dates depend on lunar sightings and can shift slightly.
Which holidays are uniquely national (non-religious) in Kuwait?
National Day (February 25) and Liberation Day (February 26) are Kuwait’s non-religious national holidays.
Conclusion
Public holidays in Kuwait combine national pride and Islamic traditions. While dates for religious holidays may shift, the core structure—National Day, Liberation Day, and major festivals like Eid—anchors the public calendar each year.
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