Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year begins on 1 Muharram, the opening day of the Hijri lunar calendar. The calendar is counted from the Hijra—the migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE—which became a foundational moment in the formation of the Muslim community.

In Oman, the day is an official public holiday rather than a secular New Year celebration. Its atmosphere is often quiet and reflective: people may spend time with family, attend religious lessons or simply use the day as a pause. The date also opens Muharram, a month with different layers of meaning for Muslim communities, making respectful local awareness especially useful.

The holiday’s Gregorian date moves each year and is included in Oman’s annual announcement. Its Gregorian date moves with the Hijri lunar calendar. The date shown here is a planning calculation only: Oman’s annual official notice—and, for the two Eids, the moon-sighting announcement—takes priority for leave, travel and closures.

Oman’s advance 2026 calendar designated Thursday, June 18 as the paid holiday for the new Hijri year. That is the operative civil closure even when a generic lunar converter produces a neighbouring date. The decree covers state administrative units, public legal entities and private-sector establishments, permits a single compensation day when a listed non-Eid holiday overlaps weekly rest, and allows necessary work with the legally required compensation. The exact announced date therefore controls payroll and travel planning.