Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the only widely cited Muslim-majority countries that do not declare Mawlid al-Nabi, the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday, as an official public holiday. This distinction stems from their adherence to the Salafi/Wahhabi school of Islamic thought, which regards formal celebration of the Prophet's birthday as a religious innovation, or bid'ah, lacking grounding in early Islamic practice.
Official Holidays in Saudi Arabia and Qatar
In both countries, public holidays are limited primarily to the two major Islamic feasts: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Each nation also observes its own national occasions. Saudi Arabia marks Saudi National Day and Saudi Founding Day, while Qatar celebrates Qatar National Day and National Sports Day. Mawlid al-Nabi does not appear on either country's official list of gazetted public holidays.
While private reflection or informal observance may occur among individuals, the state position is clear: no official day off is granted, and no state-sanctioned public celebrations are held.
Widespread Observance Across the Muslim World
Elsewhere, the picture is markedly different. Across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, most Muslim-majority governments formally recognise the day. Countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, and Senegal all observe Mawlid al-Nabi as a public holiday.
Nigeria is expected to declare the public holiday on Tuesday, August 25, when Muslims in the country will be celebrating the 2026 Mawlid al-Nabi.
Consistent Exceptions
Saudi Arabia and Qatar remain the consistent, well-documented exceptions among Muslim-majority states on this question. Specific country policies can shift slightly over time, but multiple sources confirm that these two nations have maintained their position as the only Muslim-majority countries where Mawlid al-Nabi carries no official public holiday status.
