Gulf national days and their sales: a shopper’s calendar

The short version

Each Gulf state has a national day, and local retailers usually mark it with offers.
The dates are fixed in the Gregorian calendar, which makes them easy to plan for.
Many offers use numbers tied to the occasion, such as the anniversary year or founding year.
Check that an offer is valid where you live. National day deals are usually local.

The calendar

Occasion	Date
Oman National Day	20 November (holiday on 20 and 21 November)
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad)	2 December
Bahrain National Day	16 December
Qatar National Day	18 December
Saudi Founding Day	22 February
Kuwait National Day and Liberation Day	25 and 26 February
Saudi National Day	23 September

In some years the official public holiday differs from the day itself, depending on what each government announces.

What kind of offers to expect

National day promotions work differently from global events like White Friday. They tend to be:

Local: aimed at shoppers in that country, and often not valid elsewhere.
Symbolic: many Saudi retailers use the anniversary number on National Day (93, 94 and so on) or 1727 on Founding Day, as codes, percentages or prices.
Short: some last a day or two; others start a few days early.
Broad: from fashion and electronics to restaurants and domestic travel.

November and December: a crowded stretch

The end of the year stacks several occasions: 11.11, White Friday, Oman’s National Day, then UAE National Day, and Bahrain’s and Qatar’s national days. Deals come one after another, so there’s no need to rush. Miss something on 11.11 and you may find similar on White Friday or your own national day. Keep a note of prices and compare across events.

February: Founding Day, Kuwait’s National Day and Ramadan

In 2027, Saudi Founding Day (22 February) and Kuwait’s National Day (25 February) fall during Ramadan, which is expected to start around 8 February. National day promotions may overlap with Ramadan offers, so plan with both in mind. Our Ramadan 2027 guide has the details.

September: Saudi National Day

23 September marks the unification of the Kingdom and is one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest local sale moments. Many stores start about a week early, and it often overlaps with back-to-school promotions.

Before you buy

Check the country the offer covers, especially in apps that serve several markets.
Read the maximum discount. Symbolic codes can carry low caps.
Verify the licence in Saudi Arabia by scanning the barcode or using the Ministry of Commerce verification service.
Beware of copycat accounts posting “national day codes” on social media. Real codes come from the store or its approved partners.

How Kobon handles these seasons

We add official national day offers to each country’s market page, showing where the offer is valid and when we last checked it. We don’t post codes doing the rounds without a source.

Common questions

Are national day offers open to residents?

Yes. They’re generally aimed at everyone shopping in the country, citizens and residents alike, unless the terms say otherwise.

Do the deals start on the day itself?

Many start a few days early, especially for Saudi National Day. Turn on alerts from your usual stores a week ahead.

Do national day codes work on international stores?

Usually not, since they’re local campaigns. International stores with a Gulf version sometimes join in for a specific market, so check which country the offer covers.

What’s the difference between Saudi Founding Day and National Day?

Founding Day on 22 February commemorates the founding of the first Saudi state, while National Day on 23 September marks the unification of the Kingdom. Each has its own promotions.

Sources

We may earn a commission when you buy through partner links, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t influence our guides.