UAE Public Holidays (2025–2027)
The UAE has 8 public holiday periods in 2026, and nearly every one connects to a weekend. Ramadan runs the full 30 days, so Eid al-Fitr is officially observed Mar 19–22 with the holiday itself on Friday Mar 20. Arafat Day (Tue May 26) plus Eid al-Adha (May 27–29) merges with the weekend for a 6-day break, and National Day (Dec 2–3) lands right before the weekend — take Friday Dec 4 off to stretch it to five days. The Cabinet moved the Islamic New Year to Monday Jun 15, producing a 3-day weekend.
Public holiday periods
8
Longest break
Eid al-Adha · 6 days
Hijri-based holidays
5
Days off incl. weekends
≈ 20
2026 United Arab Emirates calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
United Arab Emirates public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Mar 19 – 22 | Thursday – | Eid al-FitrThe FAHR / MoHRE announcement (Feb 23, 2026) set the break at Mar 19–22 for both sectors. Ramadan lasted the full 30 days (the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on Mar 18), so Eid day itself is Friday Mar 20; Mar 19 is the extra 30th-day-of-Ramadan holiday. Work resumes Monday Mar 23.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 26, 2026 | Tuesday | Arafat DayDhu al-Hijjah 9, 1447 AH, confirmed by the Hajj and Umrah authorities' calendar for 2026. It falls on a Tuesday, and Eid al-Adha follows immediately.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27 – 29 | Wednesday – | Eid al-AdhaDhu al-Hijjah 10–12. With Arafat Day on Tuesday, the three Eid days (Wed–Fri May 27–29) create a 6-day break when the weekend is included — the longest of 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Islamic New Year (Al Hijri)Muharram 1, 1448 AH corresponds to Tuesday Jun 16 on the Umm al-Qura calendar. The UAE officially declared Monday Jun 15 a public holiday for both sectors, so the break lands on the weekend edge — Sat Jun 13 to Mon Jun 15. Work resumes Tuesday Jun 16.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| August 25, 2026 | Tuesday | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)Rabi al-Awwal 12, 1448 AH (Umm al-Qura calendar). It falls on Tuesday Aug 25 — in the middle of the week, so the Cabinet may still move it to a Monday or Friday closer to the date; check the official announcement.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| November 30, 2026 | Monday | Commemoration DayCommemoration Day is always Nov 30. In 2026 it falls on a Monday, so no Cabinet move is needed — a convenient single-day break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| Dec 2 – 3 | Wednesday – | UAE National DayDec 2–3 is a fixed Gregorian holiday (union of the Emirates, 1971). In 2026 it falls on Wednesday and Thursday; the Saturday–Sunday weekend follows, so booking Friday Dec 4 off turns it into a five-day break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
United Arab Emirates long weekends in 2026
Eid al-Fitr break
4 daysMar 19 – 22
A 4-day break announced for both sectors: the extra 30th day of Ramadan (Thu Mar 19), Eid day (Fri Mar 20) and the weekend.
Eid al-Adha break
6 daysMay 26 – 31
Arafat Day (Tue) + Eid al-Adha (Wed–Fri) + the weekend = 6 consecutive days off, the longest break of 2026. Taking Monday May 25 as annual leave extends it to 9 days.
Islamic New Year break
3 daysJun 13 – 15
The Cabinet moved the Islamic New Year holiday to Monday Jun 15, so the Saturday–Sunday weekend becomes a 3-day break.
Commemoration Day
3 daysNov 28 – 30
The UAE's weekend transfer rule in 2026
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, holidays other than the three Eid al-Fitr days may be moved to the start or end of the week, and a holiday falling on a weekend is not automatically compensated. In 2026 the rule surfaced once: the Islamic New Year (Muharram 1, 1448 AH, which the Umm al-Qura calendar places on Tue Jun 16) was observed on Monday Jun 15, turning the weekend into a 3-day break.
The Prophet's Birthday (Tue Aug 25) falls mid-week and is still subject to a possible Cabinet move when the official calendar is published closer to the date. Eid al-Fitr, by contrast, cannot be moved at all — but when Ramadan runs 30 days (as in 2026), its 30th day automatically becomes an extra holiday.
How the 2026 Eid al-Fitr date was actually set
The FAHR and MoHRE announced the framework on Feb 23, 2026: public sector Mar 19–22, private sector Mar 19–21 with an extension to Mar 22 if Ramadan reached 30 days. On the night of Mar 18 (the 29th of Ramadan) the Shawwal crescent could not be sighted, so Ramadan completed 30 days and Eid day became Friday Mar 20 — activating the private-sector extension. All workers therefore enjoyed Mar 19–22, and offices reopened Monday Mar 23.
The Eid holiday structure: 6 days around Eid al-Adha
Arafat Day is always the day before Eid al-Adha, and both are official holidays. In 2026 the pair lands on Tuesday May 26 and Wednesday–Friday May 27–29, so the weekend (May 30–31) extends the block to 6 days. One day of annual leave (Mon May 25) turns it into 9 days — the standout planning window of the year.
Download & subscribe
Official sources & data
- Breaking news: Eid Al Fitr 2026 public holiday announced (FAHR / MoHRE)Visit sourceWhat's On (AE)
- Eid Al Fitr 2026 in UAE: Shawwal crescent moon sighting across the worldVisit sourceGulf News
- UAE public holidays 2026 (official list via gov.ae)Visit sourcePublic Holidays Global
- 伊斯兰新年过后，阿联酋两个月内再无公共假期（2026年6月15日官方公告）Visit sourceDubai Chinese (迪拜中华网)
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2026?+
Eight public holiday periods: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Eid al-Fitr (Mar 19–22), Arafat Day (May 26), Eid al-Adha (May 27–29), Islamic New Year (Jun 15), the Prophet's Birthday (Aug 25), Commemoration Day (Nov 30) and National Day (Dec 2–3). Because almost every block touches a weekend, actual days off total roughly 20.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2026 in the UAE?+
Eid day is Friday March 20, 2026 — Ramadan lasted the full 30 days. The official holiday runs Thursday Mar 19 to Sunday Mar 22 for both public and private sectors (Mar 19 is the extra 30th-day-of-Ramadan holiday). Work resumes Monday Mar 23.
When is Eid al-Adha 2026 in the UAE?+
Arafat Day is Tuesday May 26 and Eid al-Adha runs Wednesday May 27 to Friday May 29, 2026. Combined with the weekend this gives 6 consecutive days off — the longest break of the year.
What happens when a UAE public holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday?+
There is no automatic substitute day. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 the Cabinet may move most holidays (all except the 3 Eid al-Fitr days) to the start or end of the week. In 2026 the Islamic New Year was observed on Monday Jun 15 instead of its Umm al-Qura date (Tue Jun 16), creating a 3-day weekend.
Is the Islamic New Year a public holiday in the UAE in 2026?+
Yes. The UAE declared Monday June 15, 2026 a public holiday for both public and private sectors to mark the Hijri New Year (Muharram 1, 1448 AH). The religious date per the Umm al-Qura calendar is Tuesday Jun 16; the holiday was brought forward to the Monday so it joins the weekend.
When is the UAE National Day 2026 and how long is the break?+
National Day is fixed on Dec 2–3. In 2026 those fall on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Saturday–Sunday weekend immediately after — the two holiday days plus the weekend give four days of rest around one working Friday (Dec 4). Book that Friday off and the break becomes five consecutive days (Dec 2–6).
