Home›Experience›Events Calendar›Events 2036
Events Calendar
Middle East events in 2036 could include the region's first Summer Olympics: Doha and Istanbul are both candidates for the 2036 Games, with the host expected to be chosen in 2029. The recurring luxury calendar of Formula 1, art fairs and festivals continues alongside.
Updated
At a glance
Middle East events 2036
For 2036, 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 is expected from about October 20 to November 18, with Eid al-Fitr around November 19.
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 | 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–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 | 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 | Bahrain International Airshow (even years) | Sakhir, Bahrain | Expected |
| November–December | Qatar Grand Prix (Formula 1) | Lusail, Qatar | To be confirmed |
| 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 | MEBAA Show, business aviation (even years) | Dubai | Expected |
| 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 |
| Host to be decided | Summer Olympic Games 2036 (Doha and Istanbul are candidates; Egypt has stated an interest) | To be decided | To be confirmed |
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 | 2036 date | What it means for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan (approximate) | October 20 – November 18 | Shorter business hours, daytime dining mostly in hotels, memorable iftar evenings |
| Eid al-Fitr (approximate) | November 19 | Three to five days of closures and peak regional travel; book early |
| Day of Arafah (approximate) | February 6 | Hajj season: Makkah open to pilgrims only, Saudi flights very full |
| Hajj (approximate) | February 5–10 | Saudi hotels and flights heavily booked |
| Eid al-Adha (approximate) | February 7 | Long public holiday across the Arab world; Türkiye often extends to nine days |
| Islamic New Year (approximate) | February 28 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Mawlid (approximate) | May 8 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Passover (Israel) | April 12–18 | Busy domestic travel week; some services reduced |
| Rosh Hashanah (Israel) | September 22–23 | New Year holiday; many businesses close |
| Yom Kippur (Israel) | October 1 | The country stops: no traffic, Ben Gurion Airport closes for the day |
| Sukkot (Israel) | October 6–13 | Festive week, hotels in demand |
Biggest events of 2036
The 2036 Olympic bids. Qatar, with Doha, and Türkiye, with Istanbul, are candidates for the 2036 Summer Games, and Egypt has stated an intention to bid for 2036 or 2040. The host decision is expected around mid-2029; no host or dates are set.
Formula 1. 2036 is the final year of the current Bahrain Grand Prix agreement, the longest-running race contract in the region. See the Formula 1 Middle East guide.
The recurring calendar. Even-year events, including the Diriyah Biennale, Desert X AlUla, the Bahrain Airshow and the MEBAA Show, are expected.
Msheireb's finest hotel, in the heart of Doha.
Official site ↗All-suite luxury at Lusail.
Official site ↗An Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus.
Official site ↗All-villa retreat near the Bahrain circuit.
Official site ↗Events, property
For buyers, see Qatar Luxury Real Estate at The Pearl and Istanbul Luxury Real Estate and Bodrum villas. Continue to events in 2035 and events in 2037.
Ultra-Luxury Real Estate · Own Here
Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.
Ultra-Luxury Tourism & Ultra-Luxury Real Estate
Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.