Mid-November used to be a shared celebration date for two countries far apart: Morocco in North Africa and Oman in West Asia. Many websites still say both hold their national day on 18 November. That is still true for Morocco, but it is no longer true for Oman.
This article explains what each day marks, why the dates were chosen, how they are celebrated in 2026, and which popular claims are wrong.
Quick answer
- Morocco’s Independence Day is on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, and it is a public holiday [1].
- It honours the return of King Mohammed V from exile and his speech of 18 November 1955. Morocco’s legal independence dates were 2 March 1956 from France and 7 April 1956 from Spain [2].
- Oman’s National Day is no longer 18 November. A royal decree (an official order from the ruler) issued on 21 January 2025 set it on 20 and 21 November [3, 4].
- Oman’s official days off in 2026 are Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November [5].
- Oman’s holiday is called National Day, not Independence Day. Since 2025 it marks the founding of the Al Busaidi state (the ruling family’s state) in 1744 [6].
- A popular claim says Oman’s 18 November marks the day the Portuguese were expelled in 1650. A history source says Muscat’s last Portuguese base surrendered in January 1650 [7].
Side by side: the two national days
| Question | Morocco | Oman |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Independence Day (also called Eid al-Istiqlal) [2] | National Day [3] |
| Date in 2026 | Wednesday, 18 November [1] | Official dates 20 and 21 November, with days off on 25 and 26 November [3, 5] |
| What it marks | The king’s return from exile and his 1955 speech [2] | The founding of the Al Busaidi state in 1744 [6] |
| Earlier dates | 2 March until the early 1960s [2] | 23 July at first, then 18 November [9] |
| Who chose the current date | King Hassan II, after taking the throne in 1961 [2] | Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, announced on 11 January 2025 [6] |
| Nearby national day | Green March anniversary on 6 November [1, 2] | None listed for November [5] |
Morocco: Independence Day on 18 November
Morocco was under a protectorate, which means a foreign power ran the country while a local ruler kept his title. In August 1953 the French authorities exiled King Mohammed V and the royal family, first to Corsica and then to Madagascar [8]. Moroccan resistance and unrest grew after that [2, 8].
The king returned home on 16 November 1955, and two days later he gave a speech in Rabat announcing the end of the protectorate and the start of freedom and independence [2]. The formal independence agreements came later, with France on 2 March 1956 and with Spain on 7 April 1956 [2].
So why is the holiday on 18 November? Moroccans celebrated on 2 March in the 1950s. After King Hassan II took the throne in 1961, he asked for the commemoration to move to 18 November in honour of his father [2]. The same date is also the anniversary of Mohammed V becoming king in 1927 [2].
In 2026, the holiday falls two weeks after the Green March anniversary on 6 November, which is also a public holiday [1, 2]. The Green March is linked to Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, and this article does not take a side in that dispute.
How Morocco marks the day
Independence Day is a public holiday [1]. In 2025, which was the 70th anniversary of the king’s return, official celebrations ran from 16 to 18 November across the country, according to a Moroccan government portal [8].
That portal reports that a state body for former resistance fighters and members of the liberation army held a meeting and a conference, honoured former resisters, and planned educational and cultural activities in the regions [8]. This is the government’s own account, so it reflects the official view of the story.
Oman: National Day, now on 20 and 21 November
Oman’s holiday is not an independence day in the way Morocco’s is. The Portuguese held parts of Oman from 1507 [10]. They were driven out under Sultan bin Saif, the Imam (the title of Oman’s ruler at that time), and the surrender of their last base in Muscat came in January 1650, on 23 or 28 January depending on the account [7].
Some holiday guides say this happened on 18 November 1650 [10]. The historical account does not support that date [7].
How the date changed over time
Sultan Qaboos took power on 23 July 1970, and National Day was first held on that date. After 1971 it was moved to 18 November, his birthday, so people could celebrate outdoors instead of in the hot summer [9].
On 11 January 2025, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik announced that 20 November of every year would be National Day. He tied it to the day in 1744 when Sayyid Ahmed bin Said al Busaidy began the Al Busaidy dynasty (the ruling family line that still governs Oman) [6].
Royal Decree 15/2025 turned this into law on 21 January 2025, setting National Day on 20 and 21 November [3]. It was the first time National Day was observed over two days [4].
The 2026 holiday
Oman announces official holidays at the start of each year, and the Council of Ministers approved this advance system [5]. For 2026, the Ministry of Labour set the National Day days off for Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November [5]. The legal National Day dates, 20 and 21 November, fall on a Friday and a Saturday in 2026.
In 2025 the days off were 26 and 27 November [4]. This means the day people take off can differ from the official date, so check the yearly announcement.
How Oman celebrates
National Day events include parades, fireworks, camel races, an equestrian show and a marine festival [10]. A military show is held once every five years, students sing the national anthem, and many families travel to their home villages [10].
What the two days have in common
Neither country uses the date of its formal legal event. Morocco chose the day of a royal speech instead of the independence agreements [2]. Oman chose the founding day of its ruling dynasty [6].
Both dates have also changed over time. Morocco moved its celebration from March to November in the early 1960s [2], and Oman moved its day from July to November and then to 20 November [9, 6]. For readers across Africa and Asia, the lesson is that national days are often chosen for symbolism, so the “official” date can shift when leaders decide it should.
Myths vs facts
| Claim | Verdict | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| Both countries celebrate on 18 November every year | Myth | Morocco does [1], but Oman’s National Day is now set on 20 and 21 November [3, 4]. |
| Morocco became independent on 18 November | Myth | Independence came on 2 March 1956 from France and 7 April 1956 from Spain [2]. |
| Morocco always celebrated Independence Day on 18 November | Myth | It was celebrated on 2 March until King Hassan II asked for the change [2]. |
| Morocco’s 18 November is also the anniversary of Mohammed V becoming king | True | He became king on 18 November 1927 [2]. |
| Oman’s National Day is its independence day | Myth | It now marks the founding of the Al Busaidy state in 1744 [6]. |
| The Portuguese were expelled from Oman on 18 November 1650 | Myth | Their last Muscat base surrendered in January 1650 [7]. |
| Oman’s National Day was first held in July | True | It started on the anniversary of Sultan Qaboos taking power, 23 July [9]. |
| Oman’s 2026 holiday days off are 20 and 21 November | Myth | The days off are 25 and 26 November [5]. |
| Ahmed bin Said took power on exactly 20 November 1744 | Unproven | This is the official Omani account [6], and we found no independent source for the exact day. |
Bottom line
Morocco’s Independence Day stays on 18 November, and in 2026 it falls on a Wednesday. It celebrates a king’s return and a speech in 1955 rather than the legal independence dates in 1956. Oman’s National Day has moved. It is officially on 20 and 21 November since 2025, it marks the founding of the Al Busaidy state in 1744, and in 2026 the days off are 25 and 26 November. If you are planning travel, business or events, use the 2026 dates above and check each government’s yearly holiday announcement.
Disclaimer: This article is for general education only and does not replace official government announcements of public holiday dates. If you notice an error or would like to send feedback or corrections, please contact us.
- [1] Morocco’s 2026 calendar brings a record 14 public holidays, 7news Morocco
- [2] Independence Day: Importance of November 18 in Morocco’s History, Morocco World News
- [3] Royal Decree 15/2025 Amending Some Provisions of Royal Decree 88/2022 Determining the Official Holidays, Decree.om
- [4] National Day holidays announced in Oman for public, private sectors, Gulf News
- [5] Oman announces 4-day National Day break in November, Times of Oman
- [6] Adoption of Nov 20 as National Day affirms connection to Al Busaidy State, Oman Observer
- [7] Sultan bin Saif, Wikipedia
- [8] FĂŞte de l’IndĂ©pendance: un emblème de triomphe de la volontĂ© du TrĂ´ne et du peuple, Maroc.ma
- [9] Video: Omanis celebrate the country’s 45th national day, The New Arab
- [10] National Day in Oman in 2026, Office Holidays
