The Kuwait WhatsApp Campaign Calendar (October 2026 – December 2027)
Kuwait's year has one extraordinary month: in February 2027, Hala Febrayer, the start of Ramadan, Girgian and the National and Liberation Day holidays are all expected to land within the same three weeks. Here is how to plan around it — and the rest of the year.
Short answer: the three peaks for Kuwaiti WhatsApp campaigns between now and December 2027 are White Friday in November 2026, February 2027 — when Hala Febrayer, Ramadan (expected to begin around 8 February, subject to moon sighting), Girgian and National Day (25 Feb) and Liberation Day (26 Feb) all overlap — and Eid al-Fitr around 9–10 March. Eid al-Adha follows around 16–17 May. Because a marketing message to a Kuwaiti number now costs $0.0792, plan fewer, better-timed sends to opted-in segments, keep order and booking updates as utility templates, and send inside a 7 AM–10 PM Kuwait window — which in Ramadan means the hour after iftar.
How to read this calendar
- Islamic dates are estimates. Ramadan, Eid and other Hijri dates below are astronomical and calendar projections, all subject to moon sighting and to official announcements by Kuwait's Civil Service Commission. Build campaigns so that a one-day shift does not matter.
- Kuwait's weekend is Friday and Saturday. Thursday evening is the start of the weekend mood; Sunday is a working day.
- Template categories matter more in Kuwait than elsewhere in the Gulf, because both rates are high: $0.0792 marketing, $0.044 utility. A campaign to 5,000 contacts costs $396 in marketing messages — so every send needs a reason. See our Kuwait pricing guide.
- Submit templates two to three weeks early. Approval is usually fast, but rejections and Arabic edits take time, and February 2027 leaves no room for a late template.
The 15-month calendar at a glance
| When | Moment | What to send | Template category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late Oct 2026 | Settling into the school term (classes began 13–14 September 2026) | Opt-in drive: add WhatsApp consent to checkout, bookings and Instagram bio | None — this is list-building |
| Nov 2026 (Black Friday falls on 27 Nov) | White Friday / Yellow Friday month | Early-access list, launch message, one reminder, last-day message | Marketing |
| Dec 2026 – early Jan 2027 | Year-end; New Year's Day 1 Jan (Friday); Isra and Miraj around 6 Jan | Year-end thank-you to best customers; winter menus; service reminders | Marketing (sparingly); utility for reminders |
| Mid Jan 2027 | Pre-Ramadan planning window | Ramadan bookings: ghabga packages, catering, salon slots before Eid | Marketing |
| Early Feb 2027 | Hala Febrayer festival season begins; graish (pre-Ramadan family feast) | Festival offers, pre-Ramadan stock-up | Marketing |
| ~8 Feb 2027 | Ramadan expected to begin (subject to moon sighting) | "Ramadan Kareem" greeting with Ramadan hours and ghabga menu | Marketing |
| ~20–22 Feb 2027 | Girgian (13th–15th of Ramadan) | Girgian gift boxes, sweets and nuts, children's offers | Marketing |
| 25–26 Feb 2027 (Thu–Fri) | National Day and Liberation Day | Patriotic greeting; national-colours products; holiday opening hours | Marketing; utility for changed delivery times |
| Last ten nights of Ramadan (~late Feb – early Mar) | Eid shopping peak | Eid outfits, perfumes, gifts, salon booking reminders | Marketing; utility for confirmed bookings |
| ~9–10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (holiday listed by calendars as 10–12 Mar) | Eid greeting; post-Eid service follow-up | Marketing (greeting); utility (follow-ups to orders) |
| Apr 2027 | Post-Eid quiet period | Feedback, reviews, loyalty points | Utility (order-linked), marketing (loyalty) |
| ~16–19 May 2027 | Day of Arafat and Eid al-Adha | Eid greeting; travel, meat and catering orders | Marketing |
| ~6 Jun 2027 | Islamic New Year; end of school year and summer travel | Summer travel, car servicing before road trips, home-maintenance before summer heat | Marketing |
| Jul – Aug 2027 | Summer; Prophet's Birthday around 14–15 Aug | Summer hours, AC servicing, delivery-only offers | Marketing; utility for service bookings |
| Late Aug – Sep 2027 | Back to school (2027 date to be announced by the Ministry of Education) | Uniforms, stationery, laptops, school transport, clinic check-ups | Marketing |
| Nov 2027 (Black Friday falls on 26 Nov) | White Friday month again | Same four-step sequence as 2026, refined by what worked | Marketing |
| Dec 2027 | Year-end; Isra and Miraj listed by some calendars around 26 Dec | Year-end thank-you; plan 2028 | Marketing (sparingly) |
November 2026: White Friday, Kuwait-style
Kuwaiti retailers rarely say "Black Friday" — as Kuwait Times noted, black is associated with mourning, so the same sales run as White Friday, Blue Friday or Yellow Friday, and some stretch the event across all of November. On WhatsApp, four sends are enough for most retailers:
- Early-access invite (about a week before) to your best customers only.
- Launch on the day the sale opens.
- One reminder mid-sale to people who clicked but did not buy.
- Last day — short, clear, with the end time.
EN: Hi {{1}}, White Friday starts tomorrow at our Avenues and Salmiya stores and online — you get early access tonight from 8 PM. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
AR: هلا {{1}}، عروض الجمعة البيضاء تبدأ باجر بفروعنا في الأفنيوز والسالمية وأونلاين — ولك دخول مبكر الليلة من الساعة ٨. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.
Order confirmations, "your order is ready for pickup" and delivery updates during the sale are utility messages — send them as utility templates with no promotion added, or they will be treated (and priced) as marketing.
February 2027: the month everything happens at once
If the astronomical forecasts hold, Ramadan 1448 begins on Monday 8 February 2027. That puts the whole of Ramadan's first three weeks inside Hala Febrayer — the month-long national festival that the Kuwaiti government's own portal describes as a celebration of Independence and Liberation days with shopping promotions, concerts and cultural events — and puts National Day (Thursday 25 February) and Liberation Day (Friday 26 February) around the 18th and 19th of Ramadan.
What that changes
- Tone. Festival exuberance and Ramadan's reflective mood now share one month. National Day greetings should be warm and proud rather than party-style; avoid daytime food and drink imagery during fasting hours.
- Timing. Evening activity moves later — iftar, Taraweeh prayers and then the ghabga, the late-evening Ramadan gathering of family and friends that is often a corporate event in Kuwait. Your best window is the hour or two after iftar, still inside 10 PM.
- Budget. Three occasions in three weeks tempt businesses to send three campaigns to everyone. At $0.0792 per message, that is $237.60 per 1,000 contacts. Send one combined message where you can, and segment by what each customer actually buys.
Girgian (قرقيعان)
Girgian falls on the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of Ramadan — around 20–22 February 2027 if Ramadan starts on 8 February — when children go door to door collecting sweets and nuts. For confectioners, nut roasters, toy shops, bakeries and children's clothing, it is the most specifically Kuwaiti campaign of the year.
EN: Girgian is almost here! Order your Girgian bags with sweets and nuts by Thursday for delivery anywhere in Kuwait. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
AR: قرقيعان قرّب! اطلبوا أكياس القرقيعان مع الحلاو والمكسرات قبل الخميس ونوصلها لكل مناطق الكويت. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.
Ghabga packages
Restaurants, hotels and caterers should open ghabga bookings in January, before Ramadan starts, when companies and families plan their gatherings.
EN: Ramadan Kareem, {{1}}. Our ghabga menu for groups of 10 to 60 is now open for booking — reply MENU to receive it. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
AR: مبارك عليكم الشهر {{1}}. منيو الغبقة للمجموعات من ١٠ إلى ٦٠ شخص متوفر للحجز — رد بكلمة منيو ونرسله لك. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.
National Day and Liberation Day
EN: Happy National and Liberation Day from all of us at {{1}}. Our branches are open 7 PM to midnight on 25 and 26 February. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
AR: كل عام والكويت بخير، عيد وطني وتحرير سعيد من كل فريق {{1}}. فروعنا مفتوحة من ٧ المسا لين ١٢ بالليل يومي ٢٥ و٢٦ فبراير. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.
Ramadan working hours and sending windows
Kuwait's Labour Law caps private-sector working time during Ramadan at 36 hours a week, against the usual 48, according to the Chambers Doing Business In 2026 guide (Article 64). Many businesses split shifts into a morning block and an evening block after iftar. Two practical consequences for WhatsApp:
| Time (Kuwait) | What customers are doing | What to send |
|---|---|---|
| 7 AM – 10 AM | Late start after suhoor; short working day | Utility only: delivery windows, booking confirmations |
| 10 AM – 3 PM | Working, fasting, low energy | Avoid marketing; answer enquiries quickly |
| 3 PM – iftar | Preparing iftar, last-minute shopping | Pre-ordered iftar pickup reminders (utility) |
| Iftar + 1 hour – 10 PM | Most relaxed and reachable time of day | Your main Ramadan marketing slot |
| After 10 PM | Taraweeh, ghabga, late shopping | No broadcasts; reply to customers who write to you |
Staff your inbox for the late evening even if you do not broadcast then: customers who message you at midnight are inside a customer-service window, and replying is fine — and the first 1,000 service replies per number each month are free. Set a 7 AM–10 PM sending window in QuickWA Settings so a Ramadan broadcast scheduled for the wrong hour waits rather than going out. Why that window matters in Kuwait is explained in our Kuwait marketing rules guide.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha 2027
Eid al-Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March 2027, depending on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days; third-party Kuwait holiday calendars list 10–12 March. Eid al-Adha is expected around 16–17 May, with Day of Arafat the day before; calendars list 16–19 May. Official holiday dates are confirmed by the authorities close to each Eid.
EN (Eid al-Fitr): Eid Mubarak, {{1}}! Thank you for being with us this Ramadan. Your Eid gift: 15% off your next visit until 20 March. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.
AR: عيدكم مبارك {{1}} وعساكم من عواده! شكراً لأنكم كنتوا معانا برمضان. هديتكم للعيد: خصم ١٥٪ على زيارتكم الجاية لين ٢٠ مارس. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.
For salons, barbers, tailors and abayas, the important message is not the Eid greeting but the booking reminder in the last ten days of Ramadan — and that, once a customer has booked, is a utility template.
Summer, back to school and the second half of 2027
Kuwait's summer is long and hot, and many families travel once schools close. Car dealers and garages can run pre-trip service campaigns; AC and home-maintenance companies have their busiest season. In late August and September, back-to-school demand covers uniforms, stationery, electronics and clinic check-ups — the 2026–27 school year started on 13 September 2026 for first grade, and the Ministry of Education will announce the 2027 date. Then the cycle repeats with White Friday in November 2027.
Sector playbooks
- Car showrooms and used-car dealers (Shuwaikh and beyond): new-arrival broadcasts after Eid and before summer travel; service reminders as utility. Toyota models led used-car listings on 4Sale in 2024, so segment buyers by model interest.
- Restaurants and cafés: ghabga packages in January, iftar pre-orders during Ramadan, National Day specials, summer delivery deals — with payment links so orders do not depend only on delivery apps.
- Clinics and salons: pre-Eid booking pushes, utility reminders the day before, and no medical details in template previews.
- Retail and e-commerce: White Friday, Hala Febrayer and Eid; COD confirmations as utility templates to cut failed deliveries.
- Home services: AC servicing before summer, deep-cleaning before Ramadan and Eid guests.
QuickWA's broadcasts to segments, drip journeys, A/B tests and Arabic and English templates are built for exactly this kind of calendar, with plans from $5/month and 0% markup on Meta's Kuwait rates. See the Kuwait page.
Sources
- Ramadan 2027 expected start and Eid estimates (astronomical calculations, subject to moon sighting): Gulf News (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Kuwait 2027 public holiday projections: holidaydb.com, calendarific.com (third-party, checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Hala February festival: Kuwait Government Online (e.gov.kw) (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Ghabga, Girgian and graish traditions: Kuwait Times (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- White, Blue and Yellow Friday naming in Kuwait: Kuwait Times, 25 Nov 2021 (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Ramadan private-sector working hours (36 hours a week, Article 64): Chambers Doing Business In 2026 — Kuwait (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- 2026–27 school year start: Kuwait Times (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- 4Sale used-car listings, 2024: 4Sale press release, 17 Feb 2025 (checked 23 Oct 2026)
- Meta — WhatsApp pricing (Kuwait rates from 1 Oct 2026, free service tier): developers.facebook.com (checked 23 Oct 2026)
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start in Kuwait? +
Astronomical calculations put the start of Ramadan 2027 on Monday 8 February, subject to moon sighting and the official announcement. Eid al-Fitr is then expected on 9 or 10 March 2027.
Does Ramadan 2027 overlap Kuwait National Day? +
Yes, if Ramadan begins around 8 February 2027, National Day (25 February) and Liberation Day (26 February) fall around the 18th and 19th of Ramadan, and the whole first three weeks of Ramadan sit inside the Hala Febrayer festival month.
What is the best time to send WhatsApp offers during Ramadan in Kuwait? +
The hour or two after iftar, while staying inside a 7 AM–10 PM sending window. Daytime fasting hours suit only utility messages, and after 10 PM it is better to reply to customers than to broadcast.
Is White Friday the same as Black Friday in Kuwait? +
Yes. Kuwaiti retailers generally avoid the word "black" and run the late-November sales as White, Blue or Yellow Friday; some extend them across the whole month.
Which template category should Eid booking reminders use? +
A reminder about a booking the customer has already made is a utility template ($0.044 in Kuwait). An Eid offer or greeting is marketing ($0.0792). Do not mix the two in one template.
When is Girgian in 2027? +
Girgian is celebrated on the 13th, 14th and 15th nights of Ramadan — around 20–22 February 2027 if Ramadan starts on 8 February, subject to moon sighting.