United Arab Emirates Long Weekends 2026
United Arab Emirates produces 4 long weekends in 2026 — every break of three days or more that its public holidays actually create. The longest runs 6 days (May 26–31). All of these breaks come straight from the published holiday calendar.
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
Interactive Leave & Bridge Days Planner
Select your country, year, and annual leave budget to calculate the highest-ROI vacation strategies. Bridge mid-week holidays into continuous mega-breaks.
24 Bridge Strategies Found
Arafat Day
May 23 – 31•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on May 25 to bridge Arafat Day with the weekend for a 9-day vacation.
Commemoration Day
Nov 28 – Dec 3•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Dec 1 to bridge Commemoration Day with the weekend for a 6-day vacation.
UAE National Day
Dec 2 – 6•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Dec 4 to bridge UAE National Day with the weekend for a 5-day vacation.
Commemoration Day
Nov 28 – Dec 6•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Dec 1, Dec 4 to connect Commemoration Day into a 9-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 4•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Jan 2 to bridge New Year's Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)
Aug 22 – 25•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Aug 24 to bridge Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid) with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Eid al-Fitr
Mar 14 – 22•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Mar 16 – 18 to connect Eid al-Fitr into a 9-day continuous break.
Arafat Day
May 16 – 31•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on May 18 – 22, May 25 to connect Arafat Day into a 16-day continuous break.
Arafat Day
May 23 – Jun 7•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on May 25, Jun 1 – 5 to connect Arafat Day into a 16-day continuous break.
Arafat Day
May 26 – Jun 7•Total Vacation: 13 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jun 1 – 5 to connect Arafat Day into a 13-day continuous break.
Commemoration Day
Nov 21 – Dec 6•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Nov 23 – 27, Dec 1, Dec 4 to connect Commemoration Day into a 16-day continuous break.
Commemoration Day
Nov 28 – Dec 13•Total Vacation: 16 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Dec 1, Dec 4, Dec 7 – 11 to connect Commemoration Day into a 16-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31, Jan 2 to connect New Year's Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Islamic New Year (Al Hijri)
Jun 13 – 21•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jun 16 – 19 to connect Islamic New Year (Al Hijri) into a 9-day continuous break.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)
Aug 22 – 30•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Aug 24, Aug 26 – 28 to connect Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid) into a 9-day continuous break.
Commemoration Day
Nov 21 – Dec 3•Total Vacation: 13 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Nov 23 – 27, Dec 1 to connect Commemoration Day into a 13-day continuous break.
Eid al-Fitr
Mar 19 – 29•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Mar 23 – 27 to connect Eid al-Fitr into a 11-day continuous break.
UAE National Day
Dec 2 – 13•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Dec 4, Dec 7 – 11 to connect UAE National Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Islamic New Year (Al Hijri)
Jun 6 – 15•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jun 8 – 12 to connect Islamic New Year (Al Hijri) into a 10-day continuous break.
Commemoration Day
Nov 21 – 30•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Nov 23 – 27 to connect Commemoration Day into a 10-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31 to connect New Year's Day into a 6-day continuous break.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)
Aug 25 – 30•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Aug 26 – 28 to connect Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid) into a 6-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 11•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Jan 2, Jan 5 – 9 to connect New Year's Day into a 11-day continuous break.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)
Aug 15 – 25•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Aug 17 – 21, Aug 24 to connect Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid) into a 11-day continuous break.
Compliance Notice: Leave planning recommendations are calculated for vacation optimization. Taking annual leave is subject to your employment contract, employer approval, and local labor legislation.
The 4 long weekends of 2026
Eid al-Fitr break — Mar 19–22 (4 days); Eid al-Adha break — May 26–31 (6 days); Islamic New Year break — Jun 13–15 (3 days); Commemoration Day — Nov 28–30 (3 days)
Full list: Eid al-Fitr break (Mar 19–22) Eid al-Adha break (May 26–31) Islamic New Year break (Jun 13–15) Commemoration Day (Nov 28–30) — 4 consecutive-day breaks in total.
How United Arab Emirates builds its long weekends
Long weekends come from public holidays landing next to weekends (or substitute days extending them). The table above lists only real calendar breaks — a 5-day count means 5 separate runs of consecutive days off.
How to plan around them
The 4 breaks above are the ones the calendar gives you for free. The longest (Eid al-Adha break, 6 days, May 26–31) is the best anchor for a longer trip; the others work well for short getaways. Check the linked year page for make-up workdays that may surround the longer breaks.
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 long weekends does United Arab Emirates have in 2026?
5 — every break of three consecutive days or more that United Arab Emirates's public holidays create in 2026. The longest is Eid al-Adha break with 6 days off.
What is the longest long weekend in United Arab Emirates in 2026?
Eid al-Adha break — 6 days (May 26–31).
Which public holidays create long weekends in United Arab Emirates 2026?
Eid al-Fitr break, Eid al-Adha break, Islamic New Year break, Commemoration Day. Each is listed above with its exact dates.
Does United Arab Emirates have substitute days for weekend holidays?
No — United Arab Emirates has no substitute-day rule, so holidays falling on a weekend are simply lost. The long weekends above come only from holidays that land next to weekends.
Are the 2026 long weekend dates confirmed?
Yes — United Arab Emirates's 2026 holidays are confirmed, and the long weekends above derive directly from them.