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Events Calendar
Middle East events in 2040 are listed here by the region's recurring pattern: winter art fairs and racing in the Gulf, summer festivals in Morocco and Jordan, and Riyadh Season in the autumn. No major one-off events are confirmed yet, so every date below is Expected or To be confirmed.
Updated
At a glance
Middle East events 2040
For 2040, 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 September 7 to October 6, with Eid al-Fitr around October 7 and Eid al-Adha around December 14.
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 | To be confirmed |
| 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 |
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 | 2040 date | What it means for visitors |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan (approximate) | September 7 – October 6 | Shorter business hours, daytime dining mostly in hotels, memorable iftar evenings |
| Eid al-Fitr (approximate) | October 7 | Three to five days of closures and peak regional travel; book early |
| Day of Arafah (approximate) | December 13 | Hajj season: Makkah open to pilgrims only, Saudi flights very full |
| Hajj (approximate) | December 12–17 | Saudi hotels and flights heavily booked |
| Eid al-Adha (approximate) | December 14 | Long public holiday across the Arab world; Türkiye often extends to nine days |
| Islamic New Year (approximate) | January 15 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Mawlid (approximate) | March 25 | Public holiday in several countries (not Saudi Arabia or Qatar) |
| Passover (Israel) | March 29 – April 4 | Busy domestic travel week; some services reduced |
| Rosh Hashanah (Israel) | September 8–9 | New Year holiday; many businesses close |
| Yom Kippur (Israel) | September 17 | The country stops: no traffic, Ben Gurion Airport closes for the day |
| Sukkot (Israel) | September 22–29 | Festive week, hotels in demand |
Biggest events of 2040
A plan year. 2040 is the horizon for Oman Vision 2040, the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Fujairah 2040 plan, so expect new districts, resorts and transport to be open. Egypt has also stated an interest in bidding for the Olympic Games of 2036 or 2040; nothing is decided.
Formula 1 and motorsport. Current Formula 1 agreements in the region run no later than 2036, so Grand Prix weekends for 2040 are listed as To be confirmed until renewals are announced. Our Formula 1 Middle East guide will carry new dates.
The cultural year. Expect the winter art season in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, summer music in Morocco, and Riyadh Season from October. The best time to visit guide explains the seasons.
Dubai's sail-shaped icon.
Official site ↗Abu Dhabi's grand palace hotel.
Official site ↗Msheireb's finest hotel in Doha.
Official site ↗A Mediterranean resort on Morocco's Tamuda Bay.
Official site ↗Events, property
For buyers looking to 2040, see Oman Luxury Real Estate in Muscat and Dubai Luxury Real Estate. Continue to events in 2039.
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