In this article
Key takeaways
- Oman 20 and 21 November, the UAE 2 December, Bahrain 16 December, Qatar 18 December; Saudi Arabia 23 September and Founding Day 22 February, Kuwait 25 and 26 February.
- Start ads on each occasion's schedule: mid-November for Oman, late November for the UAE, early December for Bahrain and Qatar.
- Tie the offer to a meaningful number (such as 23% off on Saudi National Day) only if the offer is real, and target only the celebrating country.
- In Saudi Arabia, the national flag and emblem are not used in commercial ads and products; use the colours and phrases instead.
The Gulf national days calendar
| Country | Occasion and date | Start ads | Discount or offer in its ads today | Cash on delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oman | National Day: 20 and 21 November | Mid-November | 46% | 26% |
| UAE | National Day (Eid Al Etihad): 2 December | Late November | 40% | 14% |
| Bahrain | National Day: 16 December | Early December | 31% | 18% |
| Qatar | National Day: 18 December | Early December | 34% | 17% |
| Saudi Arabia | Founding Day: 22 February | Early February | 34% | 12% |
| Kuwait | National and Liberation Days: 25 and 26 February | Mid-February | 35% | 13% |
| Saudi Arabia | National Day: 23 September | Early September | 34% | 12% |
The last two columns come from our study of the newest 160,000 Arabic ads (2026-10-24 to 2026-11-03), outside any season: they are each market's baseline. Oman is the market with the most discounts and cash on delivery, so its national day offer has to beat what the market already offers every day. Note too that White Friday (27 November 2026) falls between the Omani and Emirati national days, and that Founding Day and Kuwait's national days may fall inside Ramadan 2027, expected around 8 February. The full calendar is in Gulf ad seasons.
When to start, and how long the offer runs
The simple rule: start the ads on the date given in the table, and run the offer itself on the days of the occasion and around them. Eid Al Etihad ads start in late November, Bahrain and Qatar ads in early December, Oman ads in mid-November.
- Before the start date: search the ads of that same country, sort them by longest running, and save the occasion offers that appear.
- Also before the start date: prepare the packaging or design in the occasion's colours, plus stock and delivery inside the country.
- On the start date: test several versions of the ad on small budgets: different angles for the same offer.
- The days of the occasion: scale the strongest, and end the offer on its stated date: an offer that "never ends" loses its meaning.
Offer ideas for national days
- A meaningful number: a discount tied to the occasion, such as 23% on Saudi National Day or 22% on Founding Day, as long as the offer is real and the "before" price is one you actually sold at.
- Occasion packaging: the same product in packaging or with a card in the occasion's colours, a limited edition people order as a gift.
- Free delivery inside the country on the days of the occasion: free delivery appears today in 16% of Bahrain's ads and 13% of Qatar's, so it is a familiar promise there.
- A gift with the order: a small piece carrying a national phrase, instead of a discount that eats the margin.
- Local and heritage products: heritage fashion, incense, coffee and local dates fit the spirit of the occasion, especially on Founding Day.
- Family gathering offers: hosting sets, sweets and family gifts, since the occasion is a holiday and a day of gatherings.
And target only the celebrating country: a UAE National Day offer means nothing to a buyer in Kuwait, and wastes your budget.
National symbols: use them with respect
A national occasion is emotional, and a mistake in it is remembered longer than the offer. General advice:
- In Saudi Arabia: do not use the national flag or emblem in commercial ads and products; it is prohibited. Use the colours and phrases instead.
- In the other countries: check each country's rules before using the flag or the official emblem in a commercial ad; colours and phrases are always a safe choice.
- Never put national symbols on things thrown away or stepped on: disposable bags, doormats, floors. What looks like a marketing idea can be read as an insult.
- Avoid images of leaders and official logos in a commercial ad unless you have explicit permission.
- Do not mix countries: one country's colours on another country's offer is a mistake everyone notices.
- Pride, not jokes: congratulations and belonging work; a joke about the occasion does not.
Each country's ads: start from its market
Each market has its own character in ads. In the UAE a discount or an offer appears in 40% of the ads, and "limited time" in 21%:
In Qatar, cash on delivery appears in 17% of the ads and free delivery in 13%. Read each market's guide before writing its occasion offer: Facebook ads in the UAE, Advertising in Qatar, Advertising in Bahrain and Advertising in Oman.
| Angle | Copy (ours) |
|---|---|
| Congratulations and offer | «كل عام و[الدولة] بخير. بمناسبة [المناسبة]: خصم [النسبة] على [المنتج] لين [اليوم]، والتوصيل مجاني داخل [الدولة].» (Happy national day to [country]; [percent] off [product] until [day], free delivery inside the country.) |
| The gift | «احتفل بـ[المناسبة] مع أهلك: [المنتج] بتغليف خاص بألوان المناسبة، وهدية [الهدية] مع كل طلب.» (Celebrate with your family: the product in special packaging in the occasion's colours, with a gift on every order.) |
| Local | «من [الدولة] وإليها: [المنتج] صُنع هنا، وعرض [المناسبة] حتى [اليوم].» (From [country], for [country]: made here, with the occasion offer until [day].) |
