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Public holidays in Yemen

14 days in 2026 · 14 in 2027

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Next public holiday

Liberation Day

ثورة 14 أكتوبر المجيدة

After it: Independence Day, Monday 30 November

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Yemen has 14 dates off in 2026. Nine follow the Islamic calendar: three days of Eid al-Fitr from Friday 20 March, four days of Eid al-Adha from Wednesday 27 May, the Hijri new year on Tuesday 16 June and the Prophet's birthday on Tuesday 25 August. The other five are fixed, and four of them belong to the two states that preceded the republic: the northern revolution of 26 September, the southern revolution of 14 October, the British withdrawal from Aden on 30 November and the union of the two on 22 May.

The calendar keeps both founding stories side by side. Revolution Day marks the overthrow of the imam in the north in 1962, Liberation Day the start of the armed campaign against British rule in the south in 1963, and Independence Day the departure of the last British soldier in 1967. Unity Day, on 22 May, marks the merger of North and South Yemen in 1990.

In 2027 the Islamic holidays fall about eleven days earlier: Eid al-Fitr from Tuesday 9 March and Eid al-Adha from Sunday 16 May, with 14 dates off again. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon.

Days off in 2026
14Nationwide public holidays
On a weekday
7Sunday to Thursday
On a weekend
7Friday or Saturday
Long weekends
2and 2 with one day of leave

2026

Public holidays in Yemen in 2026

  1. 20 March: Eid al-Fitrعيد الفطرThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal. The official list gives three days off, Shawwal 1 to 3: 20 to 22 March in 2026 and 9 to 11 March in 2027.FridayDate moves
  2. 21 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal. The official list gives three days off, Shawwal 1 to 3: 20 to 22 March in 2026 and 9 to 11 March in 2027.SaturdayDate moves
  3. 22 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرThe festival at the end of Ramadan, on the first of Shawwal. The official list gives three days off, Shawwal 1 to 3: 20 to 22 March in 2026 and 9 to 11 March in 2027.SundayDate moves
  4. 1 May: Labour Dayعيد العمالInternational Workers' Day, 1 May, a day off in both years.Friday
  5. 22 May: Unity Dayاليوم الوطني للجمهورية اليمنيةUnity Day, the national day, for the union of North and South Yemen on 22 May 1990. The provider on file dated it 5 February, and it is corrected here to 22 May, the date every other source gives.Friday
  6. 27 May: Eid al-Adhaعيد الأضحىThe festival of sacrifice, from the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah. The official list gives four days off, Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 13: 27 to 30 May in 2026 and 16 to 19 May in 2027.WednesdayDate moves
  7. 28 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىThe festival of sacrifice, from the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah. The official list gives four days off, Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 13: 27 to 30 May in 2026 and 16 to 19 May in 2027.ThursdayDate moves
  8. 29 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىThe festival of sacrifice, from the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah. The official list gives four days off, Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 13: 27 to 30 May in 2026 and 16 to 19 May in 2027.FridayDate moves
  9. 30 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىThe festival of sacrifice, from the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah. The official list gives four days off, Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 13: 27 to 30 May in 2026 and 16 to 19 May in 2027.SaturdayDate moves
  10. 16 June: Hijri New Yearعيد راس السنة الهجريةThe first of Muharram, the start of the Islamic lunar year: 16 June 2026 and 6 June 2027.TuesdayDate moves
  11. 25 August: The Prophet's Birthdayالمولد النبويThe Prophet Muhammad's birthday, on the twelfth of Rabi' al-Awwal, listed as a day off by Wikipedia and Office Holidays; timeanddate lists it in 2026 only as an observance.TuesdayDate moves
  12. 26 September: Revolution Dayثورة 26 سبتمبر المجيدةThe revolution of 26 September 1962, when army officers overthrew the imam and declared the Yemen Arab Republic in the north.Saturday
  13. 14 October: Liberation Dayثورة 14 أكتوبر المجيدةThe revolution of 14 October 1963, when tribesmen from Radfan attacked British troops at the start of the armed campaign known as the Aden Emergency.Wednesday
  14. 30 November: Independence Dayعيد الجلاءEvacuation Day, for the departure of the last British soldier from Aden on 30 November 1967, the day South Yemen became independent.Monday

Long weekends

Long weekends in Yemen in 2026

Runs of three days or more off, with weekends counted, and the working days that join a holiday to a weekend when taken as leave.

  • 3daysFri 20 Mar to Sun 22 MarEid al-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr holiday, Eid al-Fitr holiday
  • 4daysWed 27 May to Sat 30 MayEid al-Adha, Eid al-Adha holiday, Eid al-Adha holiday, Eid al-Adha holiday
  • 4daysWed 14 Oct to Sat 17 OctWith Thu 15 Oct taken as leave · Liberation Day
  • 4daysFri 27 Nov to Mon 30 NovWith Sun 29 Nov taken as leave · Independence Day

2027

Public holidays in Yemen in 2027

  1. 9 March: Eid al-Fitrعيد الفطرTuesdayDate moves
  2. 10 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرWednesdayDate moves
  3. 11 March: Eid al-Fitr holidayعيد الفطرThursdayDate moves
  4. 1 May: Labour Dayعيد العمالSaturday
  5. 16 May: Eid al-Adhaعيد الأضحىSundayDate moves
  6. 17 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىMondayDate moves
  7. 18 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىTuesdayDate moves
  8. 19 May: Eid al-Adha holidayعيد الأضحىWednesdayDate moves
  9. 22 May: Unity Dayاليوم الوطني للجمهورية اليمنيةSaturday
  10. 6 June: Hijri New Yearعيد راس السنة الهجريةSundayDate moves
  11. 15 August: The Prophet's Birthdayالمولد النبويSundayDate moves
  12. 26 September: Revolution Dayثورة 26 سبتمبر المجيدةSunday
  13. 14 October: Liberation Dayثورة 14 أكتوبر المجيدةThursday
  14. 30 November: Independence Dayعيد الجلاءTuesday

The war has divided the calendar as well as the country. Qppstudio lists 21 September, the anniversary of the Houthi capture of Sanaa in 2014, as a government holiday in areas administered from Sanaa, and an extra day after Revolution Day, Sunday 27 September 2026, for areas administered by the government in Aden. Office Holidays gives that Sunday as a day in lieu for government employees. Neither is counted here, because neither is kept nationwide.

The anniversary of 26 September is itself contested. Freedom House reports that in September 2024 Houthi forces tried to disperse public celebrations of the 1962 revolution in several cities and arrested journalists covering them.

The lengths of the two Eids differ between sources. The official list cited by Wikipedia gives three days for Eid al-Fitr and four for Eid al-Adha, which is what this page counts. Office Holidays gives four days of Eid al-Fitr in both years, timeanddate gives seven for each Eid in 2026, and qppstudio lists a longer break for government staff at Eid al-Adha in 2027. Office Holidays and qppstudio also differ by a day on the Prophet's birthday in 2027, 15 August against 14 August.

Common questions

Questions about public holidays in Yemen

How many public holidays does Yemen have in 2026?

Fourteen dates off: three days of Eid al-Fitr from Friday 20 March, Labour Day on 1 May, Unity Day on 22 May, four days of Eid al-Adha from Wednesday 27 May, the Hijri new year on 16 June, the Prophet's birthday on 25 August, Revolution Day on 26 September, Liberation Day on 14 October and Independence Day on 30 November.

Why does Yemen celebrate two revolutions?

Because the republic joined two states with separate founding dates. The north's revolution of 26 September 1962 overthrew the Zaydi imam and declared the Yemen Arab Republic. The south's revolution of 14 October 1963 began the armed campaign that ended British rule in Aden. Both were kept as holidays after unification in 1990.

What does Independence Day on 30 November mark?

The departure of the last British soldier from Aden on 30 November 1967, when Britain transferred sovereignty to the National Liberation Front and the People's Republic of South Yemen became independent. Its Arabic name, Eid al-Jala', means the festival of evacuation.

When is Unity Day in Yemen?

On 22 May, the day in 1990 when the legislatures of North and South Yemen adopted a single constitution and the Republic of Yemen came into being. It is the national day. In 2026 it falls on a Friday and in 2027 on a Saturday.

Do the Houthi-held areas keep different holidays?

In part. Qppstudio lists 21 September, the anniversary of the Houthi capture of Sanaa in 2014, as a government holiday in areas administered from Sanaa, and an extra day after Revolution Day for areas administered from Aden. Freedom House reports that Houthi forces tried to disperse celebrations of the 26 September anniversary in 2024.

How long is the Eid al-Adha holiday in Yemen?

Four days in the official list, from the tenth to the thirteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah: Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 May in 2026 and Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May in 2027. Other calendars give longer breaks; timeanddate lists seven days in 2026.

Is the Prophet's birthday a public holiday in Yemen?

Yes, by the official list cited on Wikipedia and by Office Holidays, which give Tuesday 25 August 2026 and Sunday 15 August 2027. Timeanddate lists the 2026 date as an observance, and qppstudio gives Saturday 14 August for 2027, a day earlier.

Dates from Nager.Date, read 2026-10-02. The page counts from Saturday, 3 October 2026, the day it was built.