When is Oman National Day?
Traditionally, Oman’s National Day was observed on November 18th.This date celebrates independence from Portuguese control in 1650. This holiday is the start of a two-day break, as the following day is also a public holiday to mark the birthday of the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said.
To modernize and consolidate the holiday period, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued Royal Decree No. 15/2025 on January 21st 2025, amending Royal Decree No. 88/2022. The decree established November 20th and 21st as the official National Day holiday, creating a continuous two-day celebration.
If either of these days falls on a weekend, a substitute day may be observed.
According to Royal Decree No. 27/2006, the actual dates of the holidays for the National Day may be modified to suit the public interest and in recent years both public holidays have been delayed until the end of November.
History of Oman National Day
Soon after Vasco da Gama's voyage around the Cape of Good Hope to India, the Portuguese arrived in Oman, occupying the region from 1507. The Portuguese fortified Muscat as used the town as a port from which to protect their trade routes to India.
Unhappy with how they felt the Portuguese were exploiting their presence in Oman, the powerful Al-Ya’ribi clan agreed to a treaty with the British East India Company to allow the British to have rights in their ports. This weakened Portuguese control in Oman, and on November 18th 1650, Imam Sultan Bin Saif led a rebellion that expelled the Portuguese from Oman and its ports.
Did you know?
The independence from Portugal in 1650 means that Oman is the oldest independent state in the Arab world.
To mark the day, students sing the national anthem of Oman, known as-Salâm as-Solṭâni.
National Day events include parades, fireworks, camel races, an equestrian show, a marine festival and once every five years, a military show. The two-day holiday means many Omanis will take the opportunity to return to their home villages, so traffic levels on these days may be much heavier than usual.
