Public Holidays in Yemen
Statutory public holidays in Yemen, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Yemen at a glance
Yemen’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar for religious dates, alongside national commemorations such as Unity Day on 22 May. Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year.
The weekend runs Friday to Saturday, and Eid holidays produce the longest closures of the year.
Yemen public holidays 2026
Yemen has 20 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 18Wed | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 19Thu | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (observed, estimated) | Mar 23Mon | Substitute |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Labor Day (observed) | May 3Sun | Substitute |
| Unity Day | May 22Fri | National |
| Unity Day (observed) | May 24Sun | Substitute |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 26Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
Showing 12 of 20 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Yemen
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Yemen.
Sanaa
A highland capital of multi-storey mud-brick tower houses and a walled old city.
Aden
A natural-harbour city on the Gulf of Aden with a long trading history.
Taiz
A mountain city of coffee terraces and a citadel above the old town.
Al Hudaydah
The main Red Sea port and a centre of the Tihama coastal plain.
Ibb
A green highland city of terraced fields and mist-covered hillsides.
Top attractions in Yemen
The places that draw most visitors to Yemen.
Old City of Sanaa
A walled city of thousands of decorated tower houses and a great mosque.
Old Walled City of Shibam
A desert city of mud-brick tower blocks, the Manhattan of the desert.
Socotra Archipelago
An island of dragon's blood trees and bizarre endemic flora, isolated for millennia.
Dar al-Hajar
A palace built on a rock pinnacle in a valley of mango groves.
Zabid
A historic university town on the Tihama plain with an old mosque quarter.
Bab al-Yaman
The monumental southern gate into the walled old city of Sanaa.
Festivals, food and getting around Yemen
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
Isra and Mi'raj
Falls on Jan 16
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr holiday
Falls on Mar 18
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr Eve
Falls on Mar 19
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Travel is heavily restricted and conditions are dangerous; consult current official guidance before considering any journey.
Travelling around Yemen’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Yemen tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Yemen's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Yemen public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Yemen have?
Yemen has 20 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Yemen is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Yemen's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Yemen typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Yemen?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Yemen?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Yemen
School term dates in Yemen
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.