When is Waqfat Arafat?
In 2026, Waqfat Arafat falls on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. It is classified here as a Kuwaiti public holiday.
History of Waqfat Arafat
Waqfat Arafat, also called the Day of Arafat, falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah and immediately precedes Eid al-Adha. It is linked to the central standing at Arafat during Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah, and is a day of prayer and spiritual reflection for Muslims whether or not they are on pilgrimage.
Kuwait's Labour Law lists Waqfat Arafat as a separate one-day paid holiday before the three Eid al-Adha days. That legal structure is useful in practice: it acknowledges the sacred day and gives households time to prepare for the feast, make arrangements for family visits and follow the Hajj season.
The Gregorian date changes annually with the Hijri calendar. The date presented here is a planning estimate and must be confirmed through Kuwait's annual official holiday announcement.
Article 68 treats Waqfat Arafat as its own paid private-sector holiday, followed by three paid Eid al-Adha days. Public-sector circulars can cover a longer continuous interval because weekly rest days or an expressly declared bridge day sit beside those four legal dates. Kuwait's Cabinet decision for 2026 closed government bodies from Tuesday, May 26, through Sunday, May 31: May 26–29 were identified as holidays and May 30–31 as rest days. That exact six-day arrangement should not be extrapolated to another year.
How Waqfat Arafat is observed
A one-day fully paid official holiday under Article 68 of Kuwait's Labour Law, on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah. It is followed by the three Eid al-Adha public-holiday days.
Traditions of Waqfat Arafat
Prayer and reflection
Many Muslims in Kuwait mark the Day of Arafat through worship, Qur'an recitation, religious teaching and reflective time at a local mosque.
Family visits
Greetings, Arabic coffee, dates, sweets and shared meals help connect relatives, neighbours and older family members across Kuwait's communities.
Generosity
Households and charities provide food, money or practical support to people in need, although customs differ among families and religious occasions.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Kuwaiti official and legal guidance. Lunar dates and annual Cabinet, public-sector or employer schedules should be confirmed against official notices.
History sources: Public Authority for Manpower: Kuwait Labour Law, Article 68, Kuwait Government Online: history of the modern state, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, Kuwait Cabinet: 2026 Arafah and Eid al-Adha closure.
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