Public holidays
Western Sahara: 11 public holiday dates in 2026 (11 days off) and 11 in 2027 (11 days off), with 252 working days in 2026 and 254 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 27 February 2026 | 2026-W09 | Proclamation of the SADR | Yes |
| Sunday 8 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | First Martyr | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Sunday 10 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Creation of the Polisario Front | Yes |
| Wednesday 20 May 2026 | 2026-W21 | Commencement of the Armed Struggle | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 June 2026 | 2026-W24 | Martyrs' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 16 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 2026-W25 | Uprising Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 12 October 2026 | 2026-W42 | National Unity Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 27 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Proclamation of the SADR | Yes |
| Monday 8 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | First Martyr | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Monday 10 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Creation of the Polisario Front | Yes |
| Sunday 16 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Thursday 20 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Commencement of the Armed Struggle | Yes |
| Sunday 6 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Islamic New Year | Yes |
| Wednesday 9 June 2027 | 2027-W23 | Martyrs' Day | Yes |
| Thursday 17 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Uprising Day | Yes |
| Saturday 14 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Tuesday 12 October 2027 | 2027-W41 | National Unity Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday 20 March 2026 | Tuesday 9 March 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Sunday 16 May 2027 | −11 days |
| Prophet's Birthday | Tuesday 25 August 2026 | Saturday 14 August 2027 | −11 days |
| Islamic New Year | Tuesday 16 June 2026 | Sunday 6 June 2027 | −10 days |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| February | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| March | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| June | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| Q1 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| Q2 | 60 | 61 | +1 |
| Q3 | 65 | 66 | +1 |
| Q4 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Year | 252 | 254 | +2 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
Eid al-Adha, the "festival of the sacrifice", is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son at God's command. The Eid prayer is held in the morning, followed by the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal, and celebrations carry on for the three following days.
At work: Very welcome to mention. As with Eid al-Fitr, the date follows the lunar calendar, so keep plans flexible.
The Islamic (Hijri) New Year marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. It is observed by most Muslims on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic era begins with the Hijrah, the emigration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is observed as a public holiday by 24 countries.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in the countries that observe it.
Mawlid is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It was first publicly celebrated by Gökböri, a deputy of Saladin, and the Ottomans declared it an official holiday. Celebrants recite religious poetry in praise of Muhammad.
At work: Respectful to mention. Not every colleague marks it in the same way.
Open Western Sahara in TimeBento, next to the other places you work with.