Public Holidays in Mauritania
Statutory public holidays in Mauritania, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Mauritania at a glance
Mauritania’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar, with Independence Day on 28 November the national date.
Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the country is entirely Muslim.
Mauritania public holidays 2026
Mauritania has 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Africa Day | May 25Mon | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| Islamic New Year (estimated) | Jun 16Tue | National |
| Mawlid al-Nabi (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
| Independence Day | Nov 28Sat | National |
Showing 10 of 10 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Mauritania
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Mauritania.
Nouakchott
A desert capital of wide streets, a fish market and a port on the Atlantic.
Nouadhibou
The main port and fishing city, with a ship graveyard and rail link to the mines.
Atar
A desert city with an old mosque and the gateway to the Adrar plateau.
Chinguetti
A desert town of stone mosques and ancient manuscript libraries.
Kiffa
A city in the south with a market and a bead-making tradition.
Top attractions in Mauritania
The places that draw most visitors to Mauritania.
Banc d'Arguin National Park
A coastal park of sandbanks, islands and one of the world's great bird migrations.
Ancient Ksour of Ouadane
Desert caravan towns of stone architecture, once on the salt routes.
Chinguetti Mosque
A stone mosque with a square minaret, one of the oldest in West Africa.
Eye of the Sahara
A vast concentric rock formation visible from space, the Richat Structure.
Terjit Oasis
A palm oasis in a gorge, with a spring and cool pools in the desert.
Nouakchott Fish Market
A bustling beach market where the day's catch is landed from pirogues.
Festivals, food and getting around Mauritania
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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New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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Eid ul-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Labor Day / May Day
Falls on May 1
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Africa Day
Falls on May 25
Food & drink
Getting around
Distances in the desert are enormous; a 4×4 and the iron-ore train are the classic ways to travel here.
Travelling around Mauritania’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Mauritania 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
Mauritania'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.
Mauritania public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Mauritania have?
Mauritania has 10 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 Mauritania is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Mauritania'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, Mauritania typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Mauritania?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Mauritania?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Mauritania
School term dates in Mauritania
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.