Bahrain has officially amended its public holiday calendar following the issuance of a new royal decree adding a national occasion to the Kingdom’s legally recognised holidays. The amendment is relevant to citizens, expatriate residents and institutions that plan their annual activities around the country’s official calendar.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued Royal Decree No. 54 of 2026, amending Article One of Decree No. 5 of 1973 concerning official public holidays, following a proposal submitted by the Prime Minister and approval by the Council of Ministers.

Under Article One of the new decree, an additional item numbered eight has been introduced into the existing list of public holidays, designating June 1 as Covenant and Loyalty Day. The following item in the original list will be renumbered accordingly.

The amendment establishes June 1 as an officially recognised holiday within Bahrain’s legal framework, which has governed national holidays since the original decree was issued in 1973 and subsequently amended over the years.

The royal decree was issued at Riffa Palace on October 15, 2026, and published in Issue No. 3912 of Bahrain’s Official Gazette, according to records maintained by the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission.

Article Two directs the Prime Minister and the relevant ministers to implement the provisions of the decree within their respective jurisdictions. It also specifies that the decree takes effect on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette.

As a result, the legal amendment became effective on October 16, 2026. However, the date of the newly recognised annual occasion is June 1, meaning the next occurrence following the decree’s introduction will be June 1, 2027.

This distinction is important because the date on which a legal amendment enters into force should not be confused with the date on which the newly established holiday will actually occur.

Changes to official holiday calendars are relevant to government service users, employees, families and businesses that organise their activities around annual public holidays and scheduled working days.

They may also be considered when planning administrative appointments, school activities, business operations and other arrangements involving public institutions.

However, the decree itself does not provide a separate schedule of working hours, alternative holidays, compensation arrangements or specific service closures for the newly recognised occasion.

The practical application of public holiday entitlements across different employment sectors must therefore be determined according to the relevant labour legislation, public-sector regulations and subsequent official instructions.

The decree also does not introduce new government fees, financial penalties or additional payment obligations for citizens and residents. Its legal purpose is limited to amending the list of officially recognised public holidays.

Importantly, the decision does not abolish any existing public holiday. The text specifically adds a new item and renumbers the following provision without establishing the removal of other listed occasions.

Bahraini media outlets reported the announcement on October 15, while Al Ayam newspaper subsequently confirmed on October 16 that June 1 had been added to the Kingdom’s official holiday calendar.

The amendment provides government authorities with an updated legal reference for preparing official schedules and determining the treatment of the newly recognised occasion within the established regulatory framework.

Citizens, residents and business owners are encouraged to monitor announcements from the competent government authorities as the date approaches, particularly for details concerning working arrangements, public service availability and any applicable holiday procedures.

The confirmed legal change is therefore the inclusion of June 1 as Covenant and Loyalty Day in Bahrain’s official holiday calendar, while implementation details for individual sectors should be verified through the appropriate official channels.

Source: Bahrain Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission