Oman observes National Day on November 18, marking Sultan Qaboos bin Said's birthday, which became the official national holiday after his accession in 1970. The celebration previously occurred on July 23, commemorating Renaissance Day when Sultan Qaboos came to power, but shifted in 2020 under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to unify commemoration around the November date. The holiday spans two days, with government offices, banks, and many businesses closing November 18-19. Muscat stages military parades at Al Jame field near Al Alam Palace, with the Royal Guard of Oman conducting formations typically beginning at 8:00 AM. Evening programs include fireworks displays along the Corniche waterfront area and Qurum Beach. Buildings throughout major cities receive illumination in the national colors of red, white, and green during the week surrounding the holiday.
Renaissance Day maintains cultural significance despite no longer serving as the primary national celebration. July 23 marked the 1970 coup when Sultan Qaboos bin Said assumed power from his father Sultan Said bin Taimur, opening Oman to modernization after decades of isolation. The date remains in the national consciousness, particularly among Omanis who experienced the pre-1970 era when the country had three primary schools, 10 kilometers of paved roads, and no public healthcare system. The transition from July to November as the primary national celebration occurred within months of Sultan Haitham's accession in January 2020, representing one of his first major policy decisions.
The Muscat Festival runs annually from mid-January through early February, spanning approximately three weeks. Established in 1998, the event occurs across multiple venues including Amerat Park, Naseem Gardens, and Al Amarat Park. Daily programming begins around 4:00 PM and extends past midnight, accommodating Oman's climate and work schedules. The festival features musical performances from Arab world artists, traditional Omani dance including Al-Razha sword dances and Al-Bar'ah group dances from the Dhofar region, and handicraft exhibitions where artisans demonstrate silver khanjars (traditional daggers) forging, frankincense preparation, and halwa making. Food vendor sections offer Omani dishes alongside regional Arab cuisine. Entry fees range from 1-2 Omani Rials depending on the venue section, with some zones requiring separate admission for specific performances.
Salalah hosts the Khareef Festival during the monsoon season from mid-June through early September, timed to the annual rains that transform Dhofar's landscape. The monsoon, locally called khareef, brings moisture from the Indian Ocean creating fog and drizzle across Salalah's coastal plains while temperatures drop to 22-25°C compared to 40°C+ elsewhere in Oman. The festival began in 1998 to formalize tourism around this climatic phenomenon. Event sites include Al Husn Souq, Al Haffa area, and Itin. Musical concerts occur at outdoor amphitheaters, with performers from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Egypt appearing on rotating evenings. Traditional Dhofari arts include Al-Zambura dances and drumming specific to southern Oman. The greenery attracts over 500,000 visitors annually according to Oman Ministry of Tourism statistics, primarily from other Gulf states seeking respite from summer heat. Accommodations in Salalah typically require booking three to four months advance during July and August.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's Accession Day on January 11 became an observed occasion following his assumption of power in 2020 after Sultan Qaboos's death. The day does not yet carry the same programmatic weight as National Day but receives official recognition through government building illuminations and media programming. Sultan Haitham was sworn in within hours of Sultan Qaboos's death on January 10, 2020, after the royal family council opened a sealed envelope containing Sultan Qaboos's choice of successor. January 11 marks the first full day of his rule. Public events remain limited compared to November celebrations, though this may evolve as the reign continues.
Islamic holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar, shifting approximately 11 days earlier each Gregorian year. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan fasting, with celebrations spanning three days. Omanis typically gather for communal prayers at major mosques including Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque at approximately 7:00 AM on the first morning. Families visit throughout the three days, with hosts offering Omani halwa, dates, and kahwa. Children receive eidiya, small amounts of cash in envelopes. Eid al-Adha occurs approximately 70 days after Eid al-Fitr, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. The holiday lasts four days in Oman. Families slaughter sheep or goats, distributing portions to relatives, neighbors, and the poor according to Islamic tradition. Both Eids see government offices and most businesses close for their entire duration. Domestic travel peaks during these periods, with Omanis visiting relatives across governorates.
The Prophet's Birthday, Mawlid an-Nabi, occurs on the 12th day of Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. Oman observes this as a public holiday with mosque gatherings and religious lectures, though celebrations remain more subdued than in some other Muslim-majority countries. The Ibadi school of Islam, practiced by approximately 45 percent of Omani citizens according to various religious demography studies, traditionally takes a conservative approach to celebrations not explicitly mandated in the Quran, which influences the national character of Mawlid observances.
Islamic New Year, marking the first of Muharram, passes as a public holiday with a day off for government employees and banks. The date commemorates the Hijra, Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Observances remain primarily religious rather than festive, with mosque attendance and family gatherings but minimal public programming.
Laylat al-Miraj, commemorating Muhammad's night journey to Jerusalem and ascension to heaven, receives recognition as a public holiday. The date falls on the 27th of Rajab, the seventh Islamic month. Mosques hold special evening prayers and lectures on the significance of the journey. Some Omani families prepare special meals, though practices vary by region and family tradition.
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat holds significance for both religious practice and cultural events. Opened in 2001, the mosque accommodates 20,000 worshippers. The main prayer hall contains a Persian carpet measuring 4,200 square meters, woven as a single piece requiring four years to complete with 28 colors of wool. The chandelier holds 1,122 lights and incorporates 600,000 Swarovski crystals, standing 14 meters tall and weighing eight tons. The mosque permits non-Muslim visitors Saturday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, excluding Fridays and Islamic holidays. Women must wear headscarves; the mosque provides abayas at the entrance for those without appropriate coverage. Photography is permitted in outdoor areas but restricted inside prayer halls during entry times.
The Royal Opera House Muscat opened in 2011, becoming the first opera house on the Arabian Peninsula. The venue seats 1,100 in its main auditorium with Italian marble interiors and Omani geometric patterns in woodwork. The season typically runs September through June, avoiding summer months when many residents travel. Programming includes opera, classical music, ballet, and traditional Arab musical forms. Past performers include Plácido Domingo, the Mariinsky Ballet, and the Vienna Philharmonic. Ticket prices range from 15-100 Omani Rials depending on performance and seating. Evening performances usually begin at 7:00 PM or 7:30 PM. The opera house requires formal attire, defined as long trousers for men and modest coverage for women, with traditional Omani dress also appropriate.