Eid al Adha
This is a sacrificial festival which generally lasts for three or four days. During this time, Kuwaitis put on their best clothes and visit, congratulate and offer gifts to friends and family.

Hala February
This festival is an annual event that takes place in Kuwait to celebrate the arrival of spring. It is a time when the parched sands of the desert transform into a carpet of grass, which becomes covered with blossoming flowers. The country welcomes back the migratory birds which add further colour and beauty to the desert. Hala February is a month-long cultural extravaganza and a great opportunity to participate in a myriad of events and see Kuwait at its best.

National Day
This is a celebration of the creation of Kuwait as a nation, which was formed in 1961. The day is celebrated with public meetings, firework displays and the wearing of the national dress. It is a public holiday and a time for families to get together.

Liberation Day
Liberation Day falls on 26 February and sees residents celebrate the liberation of Kuwait from seven months of traumatic Iraqi occupation in 1991. Each year, the day is marked with public gatherings and remembrance services for all who died in the conflict.

Kuwait Jazz Festival
This event has been held at the Radisson SAS Hotel every June since 1997. The festival features various styles of jazz, performed by international jazz artists and local musicians.

Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated throughout the entire Muslim world. It is a month of fasting, marking the time when the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the first Islamic century. For the entire month, Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours as well as smoking and sexual intercourse. They are encouraged to devote more time to the study of the Qur'an, to meditate and to strengthen relationships with family and friends. The beginning of Ramadan depends on the first sighting of the new moon and continues for approximately 29 days.

Eid al Fitr
This is a widely celebrated event that marks the end of Ramadan. Children receive ‘eidiah’, money given by older relatives as a present and gifts are shared by all. The holiday also sees the slaughtering of lambs and great feasts. It is common for the men to perform the traditional sword dance, the Ardha.

Film Festival
This is a celebration of national short films. The acclaimed event recognises achievements by national directors and artists as well as featuring work by international writers, directors and actors.

New Year's Day 1 January
Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) date varies each year
Islamic New Year 31 January
National Day 25 February
Liberation Day 26 February
Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet) 11 April
Al-Esra Wa Al-Meraj (Ascension of the Prophet) 22 Aug
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) date varies each year