General Information » Annual Events » Annual Events

A national assembly cabinet resolution, passed in 2001, states that, should a holiday fall in the middle of a working week, it will be moved to the following Saturday. Should any of these holidays fall on a Thursday no additional day will be given.

Eid Al Adha/Eid Al Fitr

The festival of Eid Al Adha is held on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the pilgrimage month, while Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Each lasts three or four days, with Eid Al Fitr being a particularly festive event. People dress up in new clothes, houses are decorated with lights, and there are fireworks and great feasts. It is a time for visiting friends and family, and children usually receive gifts of money.

Camel Racing

The season for camel racing, a sport which is undergoing something of a revival, is from late winter to early spring. It is a popular cultural pastime with up to sixty camels taking part in a single race of up to six kilometres in distance. Races usually take place on Thursdays and Fridays, the timings of which are printed in the local newspapers. Al Atraf Camel Racing Club (Tel: 539 4014).

Hala February Shopping Festival

Hala February, which literally translated means ‘Welcome February’, is an annual festival of cultural and entertainment events during which many retail outlets offer considerable discounts to shoppers. The festival has something for all the family, and allows people to sample real Arabian hospitality.

National Day

National Day, although celebrated on 25th February, is actually on June 19th. It marks Kuwait’s independence from Britain in 1961, prior to which Kuwait was a protectorate of the Empire. The occasion is celebrated with fireworks and festivities, with residents wearing their national dress.

Liberation Day

Liberation Day (February 26) marks the end of the Gulf War and Iraqi aggression in Kuwait in 1991. It is not officially a holiday in Kuwait although most people treat it as one. The occasion is marked by public get-togethers, but there is a sombre overtone as people remember those that died during the occupation, and the 605 prisoners of war that were captured.

Regional Environment Day

ROPME, the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment, observes 24th April as the region’s Environment Day in order to increase public awareness and renew the importance of protecting the environment, particularly the marine environment. There are regular themed art competitions with which the local schools get involved.

Exhibitions

Kuwait International Fairground (Map Ref 18-A3) holds a number of exhibitions throughout the year. For deta...