Muscat Festivals & Events

Muscat, the capital of Oman, is a vibrant city. The people are mostly Arabs along with some migrant workers from mainly India and Pakistan. Festivals and Events in Muscat are colorful and full of excitements. Most of the Festivals are held in accordance with the Islamic calendar.

The popular Festivals and Events in Muscat are:

New Year's Day: 1st January of every year is celebrated as the New year's Day and is a National public holiday. People on the eve of the day as also on New Year's Day enjoy with parties and family gatherings. Many Muslims who follow the Islamic calendar do not observe the day.

The Muscat Festival: The Muscat festival is the biggest annual event among the Festivals and Events in Muscat. The festival unfurls the tradition arts, culture and heritage of Oman. At the same time the festival provides its people with fun adventure and entertainment. Along with the cultural extravaganza there is a good deal of shopping activities going with it. The festival also showcases the art, cuisine, handicrafts and music of the region adding a touch of vibrancy to the air. Drama groups, singers and famous bands from neighboring countries delight the audience with their own performances.

Eid Al Adha: A national holiday, the festival is also known as the festival of Sacrifice. The festival is in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael for God. Many Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca during this time of the year.

Islamic New Year: It is also known as Muharram. There is ban on live entertainment in public as well as alcohol consumption on this day.

Mouloud: Also known as Mawlid Al Nabi, the festival observes the birthday of Prophet Mohammad.

Shopping Festival: This much awaited festival is held in September with the shops offering competitive prices rivaling each other. There is also the Autumn Trade fair held in Oman International Exhibition Center. It is one of the popular Tourists attractions in Muscat and has made a name among the Festivals and Events of Muscat.

National Day: Held on November 18th, the day is celebrated as the birthday of Sultan Qaboos and the country itself. The celebration is marked with camel races, traditional dancing, and lots of lighting. Erection of the images of Sultan and the Omni Flag are done throughout the country.

Ramdan: The holy month o f the Muslims in which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. There are less activities in the daytime, there is a change of business hours and sale of alchohol is forbidden. There are late openings of the shopping centers and parks. It is a national public holiday.

Eid al Fitr: This festival marks the end of Ramadan and the end of fasting period. It is a three day festival, when people enjoy good food along with their family, going to prayers, visiting families and distributing gifts. It is also a national holiday.