End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) in Bahrain
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and begins on 1 Shawwal in Bahrain. The country lists three days of Eid as public holidays, while the date in the civil calendar depends on the confirmation of the Islamic month.[1][2]
Meaning and the start of the holiday
Eid al-Fitr is the Islamic celebration that follows Ramadan, the month of fasting. In Bahrain, the holiday is tied to the start of Shawwal: the official holiday listing gives 1–3 Shawwal, and Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs publishes the Sharia Moon-Sighting Authority’s decision on when Ramadan ends and Eid begins.[1][2]
The date is not fixed from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. Bahrain’s Moon-Sighting Authority considers reports about the Shawwal crescent and announces its decision. In its statement for 1447 AH, the authority said no sighting testimony had been received by the time of its announcement, so it completed Ramadan as a 30-day month and set the following Friday as the first day of Eid.[2]
Public-holiday entitlement
Bahrain’s 2013 decision on official holidays for private-sector workers grants paid leave for 1, 2 and 3 Shawwal. It also says that if any of those days falls on a Friday or another official holiday, the worker is compensated with another day. This is the stated substitute-day rule for workers covered by that decision.[3]
The official Bahrain portal also lists Eid al-Fitr as a three-day public holiday and notes that Islamic holidays are subject to confirmation at the time. Government ministries and public institutions receive holiday instructions through official circulars; a 2021 circular specified closure on Eid day and the two following days, with an extra day if one of those days coincided with an official holiday.[1][4]
What residents and visitors can expect
Because the official holiday lasts three days, residents should expect public offices to close during the announced period. Private-sector workers’ entitlement is set out in the 2013 decision. The Bahrain portal gives regular working hours for certain services and notes that mall hours vary, so check the relevant provider’s current notice before travelling or arranging errands.[1][3]
Bahrain’s Moon-Sighting Authority completed Ramadan as a 30-day month for 1447 AH before Eid began on the following Friday.[2]
Frequently asked questions
Is Eid al-Fitr a public holiday in Bahrain?
Does Eid al-Fitr fall on the same Gregorian date each year?
Are substitute days provided when Eid overlaps another holiday?
Will shops, banks and transport services be open?
Opening arrangements vary by provider. Check the business or service directly before travelling.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for End of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) in Bahrain:
- About Bahrain- Kingdom of Bahrain National Portal
- هيئة الرؤية الشرعية: غداً الخميس هو المتمم لشهر رمضان والجمعة أول أيام عيد الفطر- Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain
- قرار رئيس مجلس الوزراء رقم (1) لسنة 2013 بشأن الإجازات الرسمية للعاملين في القطاع الأهلي- Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, Kingdom of Bahrain
- HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister issues circular on Eid Al-Fitr holidays- Prime Minister's Office, Kingdom of Bahrain