Major events and occasions: The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used civil calendar globally and forms the basis for most international scheduling. Key events include:
January 1: New Year’s Day – Celebrated worldwide as the first day of the year[3][4].
Valentine’s Day (February 14): Celebrated in many countries as a day of love[2].
Easter Sunday: A major Christian holiday, date varies each year (March/April)[2].
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day: Celebrated in many countries, including the US, with dates varying by nation[2].
Independence Day (July 4, USA): Major national holiday in the United States[2].
Halloween (October 31): Popular in many Western countries, especially the US[2].
Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November, USA): Celebrated in the US and Canada (different dates)[2].
Christmas Day (December 25): Celebrated by Christians worldwide[2].
Interesting fact: The Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct the drift in the Julian calendar[1].
Islamic (Hijri) Calendar
Major events and occasions: The Islamic calendar is lunar, so dates shift each year relative to the Gregorian calendar.
1 Muharram: Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year).
10 Muharram: Ashura, commemorated by Shia and Sunni Muslims for different reasons.
12 Rabi’ al-Awwal: Mawlid al-Nabi, celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (observed by many, but not all Muslims).
Ramadan: Ninth month, month of fasting from dawn to sunset.
Laylat al-Qadr: The “Night of Power,” within the last ten days of Ramadan (date not fixed).
1 Shawwal: Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, a major celebration.
10 Dhu al-Hijjah: Eid al-Ahda (Eid al-Adha), “Feast of Sacrifice,” coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage.
American Calendar
Major events and occasions: The American calendar is based on the Gregorian calendar with national and cultural holidays:
New Year’s Day (January 1)[4][2].
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January).
Presidents’ Day (third Monday in February).
Memorial Day (last Monday inMay).
Independence Day (July 4): Celebration of US independence[2].
Labor Day (first Monday in September).
Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (second Monday in October, varies by state).
Veterans Day (November 11).
Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)[2].
Christmas Day (December 25)[2].
Arabian Countries’ Calendars
Major events and occasions: Arabian countries (mainly in the Gulf and the wider Arab world) use the Gregorian calendar for civil matters and the Islamic (Hijri) calendar for religious events. Many national and religious observances are shared across the region.
Religious and Islamic Occasions
Ramadan: A month of fasting, observed nationwide[3].
Eid al-Fitr: Immediately follows Ramadan, marked by feasts and celebrations.
Eid al-Adha: Coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage; celebrated with animal sacrifice and charity.
Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year): A public holiday in many Arabian countries.
Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi): Widely celebrated with religious gatherings and public events (though some countries do not observe it as a public holiday).
National and Cultural Events
National Days: Each Arabian country has its own national day, often commemorating independence or unification. For example:
Saudi Arabia National Day: September 23
United Arab Emirates National Day: December 2
Qatar National Day: December 18
World Cup and Sports Events: Major international sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup (hosted by Qatar in 2022), are major occasions in Arabian countries.
Other Notable Occasions
Public Holidays for Founding Rulers’ Anniversaries: Some countries, like the UAE, celebrate anniversaries related to the founding rulers.
Islamic Public Holidays: Observances like the Day of Arafah (during the Hajj) and Islamic New Year are public holidays.
Interesting Facts and Highlights
Dual Calendars: Arabian countries use both the Gregorian and Islamic calendars, with the Gregorian for business and official matters, and the Islamic for religious purposes[5].
Cultural Diversity: While religious festivals are central, national days and sporting events play an increasing role in public life, reflecting both tradition and modernity.
Regional Variations: Not all Arabian countries celebrate the same public holidays; for example, some do not observe the Prophet’s Birthday as a national holiday.
Saudi Arabia
Event Name
Date(s)
AlUla Moments
Dec 31 – Dec 30
Jeddah Season
Apr 23 – Oct 30
Tabuk Summer Festival
Starts May 28
Speech Storytelling Masterclass Riyadh
June 9
FS Sports Show Riyadh
June 17–19
Riyadh Investors Dinner
June 24
Qassim Financial Applications Forum
June 28–30
International Conference for Education and Innovation in Museums (ICEIM)
July 1–2
Fintech Revolution Summit
July 3
Esports World Cup
July 7 – Aug 24
Saudi 4P
Nov 30
Mach & Tools Saudi
Dec 1
Real Estate Future Forum
Jan 26–28
Egypt
Event Name
Date(s)
Cairo International Film Festival
November (varies, usually mid-November)
Cairo International Book Fair
January (usually mid-to-late January)
Abu Simbel Sun Festival
February 22 and October 22
Cairo Fashion Week
April (dates vary)
Gouna Film Festival
October (early October)
Cairo International Jazz Festival
July (dates vary)
Alexandria International Film Festival
September (dates vary)
Ramadan Cultural Events
Ramadan month (varies yearly)
Egyptian Food Festival
Various dates across the year
International Cairo Biennale for Contemporary Art
Usually November – December
Lebanon
Event Name
Date(s)
Beirut International Film Festival
October (dates vary)
Baalbeck International Festival
July – August
Byblos International Festival
July
Beirut Marathon
November
Beirut Art Fair
May
Beirut Jazz Festival
April
Lebanon Wine Festival
September
Cedars International Festival
August
Tripoli International Fair
September
Lebanese Food Festival
Various dates throughout the year
Syria
Event Name
Date(s)
Damascus International Fair
September – October
Aleppo International Theater Festival
October
Krak des Chevaliers Medieval Festival
April
Palmyra Festival
Spring (March – April)
Damascus Opera Season
Various dates throughout year
Syrian Traditional Music Festival
Summer months (June – August)
Souk Okaz Cultural Festival
August
Iraq
Event Name
Date(s)
Erbil International Film Festival
October
Baghdad International Book Fair
April
Baghdad International Festival
May
Basra International Festival
March – April
Babylon Festival
September
Mosul Cultural Festival
Various dates
Ashura Religious Commemoration
10th of Muharram*
Kurdish New Year (Newroz)
March 21
Algeria
Event/Occasion
Date
Sahara International Film Festival
October (exact days vary)
Algiers International Book Fair
April (exact days vary)
Independence Day
July 5
Labour Day
May 1
Revolution Day
November 1
Youth Day
May 19
National Day of the Martyrs
February 18
Angola
Event/Occasion
Date
Luanda Carnival
February (exact days vary)
Peace and Reconciliation Day
April 4
Labour Day
May 1
Independence Day
November 11
National Heroes Day
September 17
Benin
Event/Occasion
Date
Porto-Novo Cultural Festival
July (varies)
Benin International Jazz Festival
November (varies)
Independence Day
August 1
Labour Day
May 1
National Heroes Day
December 4
Botswana
Event/Occasion
Date
Botswana International Music Festival
July (varies)
Maitisong Festival
August (varies)
Independence Day
September 30
Labour Day
May 1
Presidents’ Day
Third Monday in July
Burkina Faso
Event/Occasion
Date
FESPACO (Pan-African Film Festival)
February (varies, every 2 years, usually late February)
SIAO (International Art & Craft Fair)
November (varies, every 2 years)
Independence Day
August 5
Labour Day
May 1
National Day of Mourning
October 15
If you want more specific festival dates or additional cultural events, please ask!
Summary Table
Calendar/Occasion
Key Events/Occasions
Notable Features
Gregorian
New Year’s, Valentine’s, Easter, Christmas
Global, fixed dates (mostly)
Islamic (Hijri)
Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Hijri New Year
Lunar, dates shift yearly
American
Independence Day, Thanksgiving, MLK Day
National, civic, cultural
Arabian Countries
Islamic festivals, national days, sports events
Dual calendars, cultural & religious blend
Conclusion
Arabiancountries’ calendars are a vibrant mix of Islamic religious traditions and national celebrations, all set against the backdrop of the international Gregorian calendar for civil affairs. Key occasions include Ramadan, Eid festivals, national days, and, increasingly, major international sporting events. The use of both calendars highlights the region’s unique blend of tradition and modernity[3][5].
