UAE and Gulf awareness days and key dates

Saturday 1 February 2031

• Arab Women's Day

  Awareness

  Arab Women's Day is marked on 1 February each year, recognising the achievements of Arab women and their role in social and economic development.

• Gulf Cancer Awareness Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2031

  Gulf Cancer Awareness Week runs from 1 to 7 February each year across the GCC countries, promoting early detection, regular screening and cancer prevention.

• World Interfaith Harmony Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2031

  World Interfaith Harmony Week runs from 1 to 7 February and promotes understanding and goodwill between people of all faiths and none.

Sunday 2 February 2031

• Candlemas

  Religious and cultural

  Candlemas on 2 February, also called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, closes the Christmas and Epiphany season in many churches.

• World Wetlands Day

  Awareness

  World Wetlands Day on 2 February raises awareness of wetlands, which support a large share of the world's wildlife and are vanishing fast.

Tuesday 4 February 2031

• International Day of Human Fraternity

  Awareness

  The International Day of Human Fraternity on 4 February promotes dialogue and tolerance between people of different religions and cultures.

• World Cancer Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 4 February that encourages people and governments to act on cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Thursday 6 February 2031

• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

  Awareness

  On 6 February the UN calls for an end to female genital mutilation, a human rights violation affecting millions of girls and women.

Monday 10 February 2031

• International Day of the Arabian Leopard

  Awareness

  The International Day of the Arabian Leopard on 10 February raises awareness of a critically endangered big cat native to the Arabian Peninsula.

• International Epilepsy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the second Monday of February to raise awareness of epilepsy and the needs of people who live with it.

• World Pulses Day

  Awareness

  World Pulses Day on 10 February celebrates beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas and their role in healthy diets and sustainable farming.

Tuesday 11 February 2031

• International Day of Women and Girls in Science

  Awareness

  On 11 February the UN promotes full and equal access to science for women and girls, who remain under-represented in research.

• Qatar National Sport Day

  Public holidays

  Qatar's National Sport Day, on the second Tuesday of February, is a public holiday given over to sport and exercise.

• World Day of the Sick

  Religious and cultural

  A Catholic day of prayer on 11 February for people who are ill and for those who care for them.

Wednesday 12 February 2031

• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism

  Awareness

  On 12 February the UN raises awareness of violent extremism that can lead to terrorism and the need for international cooperation to prevent it.

Thursday 13 February 2031

• World Radio Day

  Awareness

  World Radio Day on 13 February celebrates radio as the world's most widely used medium and its reach into remote communities.

Friday 14 February 2031

• Valentine's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day for cards, flowers and gifts between partners, held on 14 February.

Saturday 15 February 2031

• International Childhood Cancer Day

  Awareness

  Held on 15 February each year to raise awareness of cancer in children and teenagers and the support they and their families need.

• World Pangolin Day

  Awareness

  Held on the third Saturday in February, World Pangolin Day raises awareness of pangolins, which are threatened by trafficking for their scales and meat.

Monday 17 February 2031

• Global Tourism Resilience Day

  Awareness

  Global Tourism Resilience Day on 17 February encourages countries to prepare tourism to withstand and recover from shocks and emergencies.

Thursday 20 February 2031

• World Day of Social Justice

  Awareness

  The World Day of Social Justice on 20 February promotes fairness, decent work and social protection within and between countries.

Friday 21 February 2031

• International Mother Language Day

  Awareness

  International Mother Language Day on 21 February promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and learning in the language people know best.

Saturday 22 February 2031

• Saudi Founding Day

  Public holidays

  Founding Day on 22 February marks the founding of the first Saudi state by Imam Muhammad bin Saud in 1727, and is a public holiday.

• World Encephalitis Day

  Awareness

  A global awareness day on 22 February about encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, and the need for faster diagnosis and support.

• World Thinking Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 February, when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate international friendship.

Tuesday 25 February 2031

• Kuwait National Day and Liberation Day

  Public holidays25 to 26 February 2031

  Kuwait marks National Day on 25 February and Liberation Day on 26 February, celebrating independence in 1961 and liberation from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

Wednesday 26 February 2031

• Ash Wednesday

  Religious and cultural

  Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Christian year, falling 46 days before Easter Sunday.

• Qatar Environment Day

  Awareness

  Qatar Environment Day is held every year on 26 February, with events led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; Qatar has marked it since 1996.

Thursday 27 February 2031

• International Polar Bear Day

  Awareness

  Held on 27 February, International Polar Bear Day raises awareness of polar bears and the threat that Arctic sea ice loss poses to them.

• Pokemon Day

  Commercial and retail

  Pokemon Day on 27 February marks the anniversary of the first Pokemon games, with announcements, store events and online broadcasts for fans.