- National Day is on 20 November; the 2026 public holiday is observed on 25–26 November, making a four-day break with the weekend.
- Using the flag, State Emblem, official map or His Majesty’s image on products and promotions needs prior approval from MoCIIP.
- The Royal Emblem and depictions of Royal Palaces and Royal Mosques must not be used at all.
- The best National Day campaigns celebrate people and places, not symbols, and stay separate from the White Friday discount.
01The 2026 dates
Because 20 and 21 November fall on a Friday and Saturday this year, the holiday was moved to Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November.1 That creates a four-day break from 25 to 28 November with White Friday in the middle. Expect family travel, busy malls and heavy online shopping in the same week. See Oman’s Q4 calendar and planning a White Friday that pays.
02The rules on national symbols
In August and again on 11 October 2026, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) reminded businesses, manufacturers and importers to get licences and approvals before producing or marketing materials that carry national symbols, citing the law on the State flag, emblem and national anthem (Royal Decree 53/2004, as amended).23
- Red, white and green as colours in your design
- Omani landscapes, heritage, crafts and food
- Your team, customers and their stories
- Greetings such as “Happy National Day”
- The national flag
- The State Emblem
- The official map of Oman
- The image of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik
- The Royal Emblem
- Depictions of Royal Palaces
- Depictions of Royal Mosques
- The State Emblem as a trademark or logo
Deadline note: the ministry set 15 October 2026 as the final date for National Day product applications this year, submitted in person with images of the product and symbol placement.3 If you missed it, design without restricted symbols, or contact MoCIIP’s licensing department before producing anything. This guide summarises public announcements and is not legal advice.
Is your National Day design compliant?
Tick everything your ad, product, packaging or social post includes.
Runs in your browser; nothing is saved. A planning aid based on MoCIIP announcements in 2026, not legal advice.
03Campaign ideas that need no symbols
“Made in Oman, by Omanis”
Feature the people behind your business: the Omani designer, the Sohar supplier, the team member who has been with you for ten years.
A craft collaboration
Partner with a local craftsperson: silver, weaving, pottery, frankincense. A limited edition with their name on it.
Eleven governorates
One post per governorate, from Musandam to Dhofar, with a customer, product or photo from each. See Oman in numbers.
Give something back
A donation per order to a registered Omani charity, announced clearly and reported afterwards.
Keep National Day and White Friday as two separate messages: National Day for meaning and gifting, White Friday for price. Running a deep discount “for National Day” can feel like using the occasion as a sales tool, and promotions still need to follow the promotion rules.
04The four-week plan
| When | Do |
|---|---|
| This week | Check every design for restricted symbols; choose one story idea; brief photo and video. |
| From 1 Nov | Shoot original content; prepare Arabic and English versions; book creators early. |
| From 15 Nov | Publish the National Day story series; warm up audiences for White Friday separately. |
| 20 Nov | National Day greeting and the hero story. No hard selling. |
| 25–28 Nov | Holiday and White Friday: delivery promises, opening hours and staff rotas confirmed. |
Common questions
When is Oman National Day 2026?
National Day is on 20 November. In 2026 the public holiday is observed on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November, because 20 and 21 November fall on the weekend.
Can I use the Omani flag in my advertising?
Using the national flag on commercial products and promotional materials requires prior approval from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion. Using red, white and green as design colours does not.
Can businesses use the image of His Majesty the Sultan?
Only with prior approval from MoCIIP. The ministry lists His Majesty’s image among the symbols that need permission before commercial use.
What is banned completely?
According to the ministry’s guidance, the Royal Emblem and depictions of Royal Palaces and Royal Mosques must not be used on commercial products, and the State Emblem must not be used as a trademark or for commercial advertising.
Method & sources
Checked October 23, 2026. Rules are summarised from MoCIIP announcements as reported by Omani media. Confirm specific uses with MoCIIP’s licensing department.
- Gulf News, “Oman sets January 2026 public holidays under new advance announcement policy” (National Day holiday on 25–26 November 2026), and Oman Observer, “Oman’s advance calendar gives you more time to plan holidays”. gulfnews.com · omanobserver.om
- Muscat Daily, “MoCIIP tightens compliance on commercial use of national symbols”, 11 October 2026. muscatdaily.com
- Muscat Daily, “Businesses required to obtain licensing for national symbols”, 26 August 2026, and “National Day products require prior approval”, 19 September 2026. muscatdaily.com · muscatdaily.com
- Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Flag, Emblem and National Anthem”. fm.gov.om