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Events Calendar
Middle East events in 2031 open with the closing months of Expo 2030 Riyadh, which runs until March 31. The rest of the year follows the recurring luxury calendar of Formula 1, winter art fairs, the odd-year biennales and Riyadh Season.
Updated
At a glance
Middle East events 2031
For 2031, few organizers have published dates, so this page lists the recurring calendar by month. Events that return every year (or every other year) are labeled Expected; one-off events and anything whose contract or venue is not yet settled are labeled To be confirmed. Ramadan that began in late December 2030 runs to about January 23, and the next Ramadan begins around December 15, so the festive season in the Gulf will feel calmer at year's end.
Fixed national days are labeled Confirmed. Islamic holidays are approximate and follow the moon. For the full fourteen-year view, see the Middle East events calendar, and for a complete list of holiday dates, holidays and national days.
Months for recurring events follow their usual pattern; confirm dates with organizers before booking.
| Month | Event | Place | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–March | Expo 2030 Riyadh, final months (to Mar 31) | Riyadh | Confirmed |
| January | Dakar Rally | Saudi Arabia | To be confirmed |
| January | Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Gulf golf swing (Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar) | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha | Expected |
| January | Art Basel Qatar | Msheireb, Doha | Expected |
| January | Al Hosn Festival | Abu Dhabi | Expected |
| January–June | Sharjah Biennial (odd years) | Sharjah | Expected |
| January–February | AlUla Moments winter season and Bahrain Spring of Culture | AlUla; Bahrain | Expected |
| February | World Governments Summit | Dubai | Expected |
| February | Saudi Cup and HH The Amir Sword Festival (horse racing) | Riyadh; Doha | Expected |
| February | Women's tennis in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai; UAE Tour cycling | Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai | Expected |
| February | Saudi Founding Day (Feb 22); Kuwait National and Liberation Days (Feb 25–26) | Saudi Arabia; Kuwait | Confirmed |
| March | Bahrain Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Sakhir, Bahrain | Expected |
| March | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Jeddah (a move to Qiddiya is planned) | To be confirmed |
| March | Dubai World Cup (horse racing) | Meydan, Dubai | Expected |
| April | Art Dubai | Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai | Expected |
| May | Arabian Travel Market | Dubai | Expected |
| June | Mawazine, Gnaoua and Fes Sacred Music festivals | Rabat, Essaouira, Fes | Expected |
| July | Esports World Cup | Riyadh | Expected |
| July–August | Jerash Festival; Dubai Summer Surprises | Jordan; Dubai | Expected |
| September–November | Istanbul Biennial (odd years) | Istanbul | Expected |
| September | Saudi National Day (Sep 23) | Saudi Arabia | Confirmed |
| October | Riyadh Season opens (runs into winter) | Riyadh | Expected |
| October | Türkiye Republic Day (Oct 29) | Türkiye | Confirmed |
| November | Abu Dhabi International Boat Show; Frieze Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | Expected |
| November | Dubai Design Week; DP World Tour Championship (golf) | Dubai | Expected |
| November | Cityscape Global | Riyadh | Expected |
| November | WRC Rally Saudi Arabia (season finale) | Jeddah region | Expected |
| November | Dubai Airshow (odd years) | Dubai World Central | Expected |
| November onward | Islamic Arts Biennale (odd years) | Western Hajj Terminal, Jeddah | Expected |
| November–December | Qatar Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Lusail, Qatar | Expected |
| November–December | Marrakech, Cairo and Doha film festivals; Red Sea International Film Festival | Marrakech, Cairo, Doha, Jeddah | Expected |
| November | Morocco Independence Day (Nov 18); Oman National Day (Nov 20, often shifted) | Morocco; Oman | Confirmed |
| December | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Yas Marina Circuit | To be confirmed |
| December | MDLBEAST Soundstorm | Riyadh | Expected |
| December–January | Dubai Shopping Festival | Dubai | Expected |
| December | UAE Eid Al Etihad (Dec 2–3); Bahrain National Day (Dec 16–17); Qatar National Day (Dec 18) | UAE; Bahrain; Qatar | Confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Asian Games, if moved from 2030 | Doha | To be confirmed |
| To be decided | AFC Asian Cup 2031 host (Kuwait among bidders) | To be decided | To be confirmed |
| To be confirmed | Turkish Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Istanbul Park | Expected |
Ramadan, Eid and holiday
Islamic dates are approximate (moon sighting; may differ by a day by country); each Islamic day begins at sunset the evening before. Jewish holidays in Israel follow a fixed calendar and also begin at sundown the evening before.
| Holiday | 2031 date | What it means for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan (approximate) | Runs to about January 23; next Ramadan begins about December 15 | Shorter business hours, daytime dining mostly in hotels, memorable iftar evenings |
| Eid al-Fitr (approximate) | January 24 | Three to five days of closures and peak regional travel; book early |
| Day of Arafah (approximate) | April 1 | Hajj season: Makkah open to pilgrims only, Saudi flights very full |
| Hajj (approximate) | March 31 – April 5 | Saudi hotels and flights heavily booked |
| Eid al-Adha (approximate) | April 2 | Long public holiday across the Arab world; Türkiye often extends to nine days |
| Islamic New Year (approximate) | April 23 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Mawlid (approximate) | July 2 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Passover (Israel) | April 8–14 | Busy domestic travel week; some services reduced |
| Rosh Hashanah (Israel) | September 18–19 | New Year holiday; many businesses close |
| Yom Kippur (Israel) | September 27 | The country stops: no traffic, Ben Gurion Airport closes for the day |
| Sukkot (Israel) | October 2–9 | Festive week, hotels in demand |
Biggest events of 2031
Expo 2030 Riyadh, to March 31. The world's fair continues through the winter season in Riyadh, a good time to combine a visit with Diriyah and the desert.
Asian Games. If the Doha Asian Games move from late 2030, they would fall in 2031; dates are to be confirmed. See Doha.
Formula 1 and MotoGP. 2031 is the last year of the current Turkish Grand Prix and MotoGP Qatar agreements; Bahrain and Qatar Formula 1 races are under contract beyond. Read the Formula 1 Middle East guide.
A national milestone. 2031 is the target year of the UAE's We the UAE 2031 plan; see UAE Vision 2031.
A palatial hotel set in landscaped grounds, a favorite of visiting delegations to Riyadh.
Official site ↗Beside At-Turaif in Diriyah, a heritage-rich alternative for Expo visitors.
Official site ↗Msheireb's finest, close to Doha's museums and arenas.
Official site ↗A Bosphorus palace for the Istanbul Biennial and the Turkish Grand Prix.
Official site ↗Events, property
For buyers following the Expo effect, see Saudi Arabia Luxury Real Estate and premium residency. Continue to events in 2030 and events in 2032.
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