UAE Public Holidays 2026 and 2027: Full List, Eid Dates and Upcoming Holidays
The official public holidays UAE residents get cover 7 occasions every year, the same for the public and private sectors. The next public holiday is National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. With the Saturday and Sunday weekend, most employees get a 4-day break from 2 to 6 December.
UAE Public Holidays 2026
Here is the full UAE public holidays 2026 list, with the dates each holiday was actually observed.
| Day | Date | Holiday | Days off |
| Thursday | 1 January | New Year’s Day | 1 |
| Thursday to Sunday | 19 to 22 March | Eid Al Fitr (Ramadan lasted 30 days) | 4 |
| Tuesday | 26 May | Arafah Day | 1 |
| Wednesday to Friday | 27 to 29 May | Eid Al Adha | 3 |
| Monday | 15 June | Hijri New Year (moved from 16 June) | 1 |
| Friday | 28 August | Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (moved from midweek) | 1 |
| Wednesday to Thursday | 2 to 3 December | National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 |
Total for the private sector: 13 paid days off, before weekends. Federal government employees got one extra day at Eid Al Adha (Monday, 25 May).
UAE Public Holidays 2027
The UAE Cabinet hasn’t confirmed the 2027 list yet. These are the expected dates, based on calculations by the UAE Astronomy Centre reported by The National, Khaleej Times and Gulf News. Islamic dates depend on moon sighting.
| Day | Date | Holiday | Days off | Expected break with weekend |
| Friday | 1 January | New Year’s Day | 1 | 3 days (1 to 3 January) |
| Tuesday or Wednesday to Friday | 9 or 10 to 12 March | Eid Al Fitr | 3 or 4 | Up to 6 days (9 to 14 March) |
| Saturday or Sunday | 15 or 16 May | Arafah Day | 1 | Part of the Eid Al Adha break |
| Sunday or Monday, for 3 days | 16 or 17 May onwards | Eid Al Adha | 3 | About 4 to 5 days (15 to 19 May) |
| Around Sunday | 6 June | Hijri New Year (1449 AH) | 1 | Depends on whether the Cabinet moves it |
| Around Saturday | 14 August | Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday | 1 | Depends on whether the Cabinet moves it |
| Thursday to Friday | 2 to 3 December | National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 | 4 days (2 to 5 December) |
Expected total: 12 to 13 paid days off for the private sector, depending on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days.
Upcoming Holidays in UAE
| Date | Occasion | Day off? |
| Monday, 30 November 2026 | Commemoration Day (Martyrs’ Day) | No, observance only |
| Wednesday, 2 to Thursday, 3 December 2026 | National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | Yes, 2 days |
| Friday, 1 January 2027 | New Year’s Day | Yes, 1 day (a 3-day weekend) |
| Around 9 or 10 March 2027 | Eid Al Fitr 2027 | Yes, expected 3 to 4 days |
| Around 16 or 17 May 2027 | Eid Al Adha 2027 | Yes, expected 4 days with Arafah |
UAE Public Holidays Explained: 2026 and 2027
These are the national holidays UAE 2026 calendars are built around, in date order, with what to expect for each in 2027.
New Year’s Day
| Year | Date |
| 2026 | Thursday, 1 January |
| 2027 | Friday, 1 January |
New Year’s Day is the only Gregorian holiday apart from National Day. It’s a fixed date, so it doesn’t depend on the moon. In 2026 it fell on a Thursday, and in 2027 it falls on a Friday, giving everyone a 3-day weekend from 1 to 3 January 2027.
Eid Al Fitr
| Year | Date |
| 2026 | Eid on Friday, 20 March (break 19 to 22 March) |
| 2027 | Expected Tuesday, 9 March or Wednesday, 10 March (break to 12 March) |
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. According to Khaleej Times, the Shawwal crescent was not sighted on 18 March 2026, so Ramadan completed 30 days and Eid Al Fitr fell on Friday, 20 March 2026. The break ran from 19 to 22 March for both sectors, and work resumed on Monday, 23 March.
2027 Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday, 8 February 2027. According to the UAE Astronomy Centre, the Shaban crescent is unlikely to be visible on 6 or 7 February, so Shaban should run the full 30 days. Eid Al Fitr 2027 is expected on Tuesday, 9 March if the crescent is sighted on 8 March, or Wednesday, 10 March if Ramadan lasts 30 days. Either way, the break is likely to run to Friday, 12 March, joining the weekend for up to 6 days off.
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha
| Year | Arafah Day | Eid Al Adha |
| 2026 | Tuesday, 26 May | Wednesday, 27 May (holiday to 29 May) |
| 2027 | Expected Saturday, 15 May or Sunday, 16 May | Expected Sunday, 16 May or Monday, 17 May |
Eid Al Adha 2026 fell on Wednesday, 27 May, with Arafah Day on Tuesday, 26 May. According to Gulf News, the Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE holidays were:
| Sector | Holiday dates | Days off | With weekends |
| Private sector | Tuesday, 26 May to Friday, 29 May | 4 | 6 days (26 to 31 May) |
| Federal government | Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May | 5 | 9 days (23 to 31 May) |
| Dubai schools | Monday, 25 May to Friday, 29 May | 5 | 9 days |
Everyone returned on Monday, 1 June. Private sector staff who took one day of annual leave on 25 May also got 9 days off in a row.
Eid Al Adha 2027 is expected around 16 or 17 May, with Arafah Day the day before. Arafah Day may fall on a Saturday, which means private sector staff could get one fewer working day off than in 2026.
Hijri New Year (Muslim New Year)
| Year | Date |
| 2026 | Monday, 15 June (moved from 16 June) |
| 2027 | Expected around Sunday, 6 June |
The Hijri New Year, also called the Islamic or Muslim New Year, marks 1 Muharram, the first day of the Islamic calendar. In 2026 it began the year 1448 AH. According to Khaleej Times, the Hijri New Year in the UAE was expected on 16 or 17 June, and the holiday was moved to Monday, 15 June for the public and private sectors, creating a 3-day weekend. In 2027, the year 1449 AH is expected to begin around 5 to 7 June.
Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
| Year | Date |
| 2026 | Friday, 28 August (moved from midweek) |
| 2027 | Expected around Saturday, 14 August |
The Prophet’s Birthday (Al Mawlid Al Nabawi) falls on 12 Rabi Al Awwal. According to Khaleej Times, the UAE moved the 2026 holiday to Friday, 28 August for both sectors, giving a 3-day weekend just before the new school year started on 31 August.
Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday 2027 are both expected to fall on a weekend (around Sunday, 6 June and Saturday, 14 August). Holidays that land on a weekend aren’t replaced with another day, but the Cabinet can choose to move them to a weekday, as it did twice in 2026. Watch for the official announcement a few weeks before each date.
National Day (Eid Al Etihad)
| Year | Date |
| 2026 | Wednesday, 2 and Thursday, 3 December |
| 2027 | Thursday, 2 and Friday, 3 December |
National Day celebrates the union of the emirates on 2 December 1971. It is now officially called Eid Al Etihad (Union Day). In 2026 it gives a 4-day break from Wednesday, 2 December to Sunday, 6 December. Expect fireworks, flag displays and public events across the country, and heavy traffic around celebration sites. National Day 2027 falls on Thursday and Friday, giving a 4-day break from 2 to 5 December.
2026 vs 2027 at a Glance
| Holiday | 2026 (observed) | 2027 (expected) |
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, 1 January | Friday, 1 January |
| Ramadan starts | Mid-February | Monday, 8 February |
| Eid Al Fitr | 19 to 22 March | 9 or 10 to 12 March |
| Eid Al Adha | 27 May (break 26 to 29 May) | 16 or 17 May |
| Hijri New Year | Monday, 15 June | Around 6 June |
| Prophet’s Birthday | Friday, 28 August | Around 14 August |
| National Day | 2 to 3 December | 2 to 3 December |
Islamic holidays in the UAE move about 10 to 11 days earlier each year, because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year. That’s why every Islamic holiday in 2027 comes roughly 10 days earlier than in 2026.
How UAE Public Holidays Work
This is the biggest Fazaa update of 2026 and the easiest way to get a card if your employer isn’t registered.
Every public holiday in the UAE is set by the federal UAE Cabinet. According to the official UAE Government portal, the same list applies to the public and private sectors, under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. A few rules explain almost every date change you’ll see:
- Islamic holidays follow the moon. Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday follow the Hijri (lunar) calendar. Final dates depend on moon sighting by the UAE’s moon-sighting committee, so they’re confirmed only days or weeks before.
- A 30-day Ramadan adds a day. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, the 30th day also becomes an Eid Al Fitr holiday. That’s why Eid Al Fitr 2026 was a 4-day break.
- Some holidays can be moved. The Cabinet can shift a holiday that falls midweek to the start or end of the week to create a long weekend. Eid holidays can’t be moved. In 2026, the Hijri New Year moved to Monday and the Prophet’s Birthday moved to Friday.
- No replacement days for weekends. If a holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, you don’t get another day off in its place.
- The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Federal government and most private companies have followed this since January 2022. Sharjah government employees have a 3-day weekend (Friday to Sunday), so their breaks are often longer.
Working on a public holiday? Under the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), a private sector employee who is asked to work on a public holiday must get either another paid day off for each day worked, or their normal wage plus at least 50% of their basic wage for that day.
Eid Holidays in UAE: How Many Days Do You Get?
| Eid | Legal entitlement | 2026 result |
| Eid Al Fitr | 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus 30 Ramadan if Ramadan lasts 30 days | 4 days (19 to 22 March) |
| Eid Al Adha | Arafah Day plus 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah | 4 days for private sector, 5 for government |
Eid dates are announced by the government shortly before each Eid, after the crescent moon is sighted. Salaries are often paid early before a long Eid break, so check your balance before you travel. If you’re paid on a salary card, our guides to NBAD balance inquiry and Lulu balance check show how to confirm your salary has landed.
Commemoration Day UAE (Martyrs’ Day): 30 November
Commemoration Day honours the Emiratis who gave their lives in civil, military and humanitarian service. It is marked on 30 November each year. The date recalls Salem Suhail bin Khamis, a policeman on Greater Tunb island who, according to widely published historical accounts, was killed on 30 November 1971 after refusing to lower the flag during the island’s seizure, just days before the UAE was formed.
The occasion was established in 2015. Across the country, flags fly at half-mast in the morning and a minute of silence is held.
Is Commemoration Day a day off? Not in 2026. For some years it formed part of a longer National Day break, but the current official holiday list covers only 2 and 3 December. You may still see older websites listing 1 December as a holiday, so rely on the official list.
Dubai Public Holidays and School Holidays
Dubai public holidays follow the same federal list as the rest of the UAE. The differences come from each emirate’s government and schools:
- Dubai government employees follow announcements from the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, which usually match the federal government’s dates.
- Sharjah has a 3-day weekend for its government employees and schools, so the same holiday often means a longer break there.
- Private schools follow their emirate’s education regulator (KHDA in Dubai, ADEK in Abu Dhabi), which can add days around Eid. In 2026, Dubai schools got the same 5-day Eid Al Adha break as the government.
During holidays, public transport often runs extended hours. If you plan to use the metro, a quick Nol card balance check saves you queuing at busy stations.
Other Observances: Days That Are Not Public Holidays in the UAE
Many people search for these dates, but none of them is an official day off:
| Occasion | 2026 date | 2027 date | Holiday in UAE? |
| Labour Day | 1 May | 1 May | No. Labour Day in the UAE is not a public holiday |
| Mother’s Day | 21 March | 21 March | No. The UAE and most Arab countries mark it on 21 March every year |
| Father’s Day | Sunday, 21 June | Sunday, 20 June | No. Most UAE residents follow the global date, the third Sunday of June |
| Emirati Women’s Day | 28 August | 28 August | No, observance only |
| Flag Day | 3 November | 3 November | No, observance only |
| Commemoration Day | 30 November | 30 November | No day off in 2026 |
| Christmas, Diwali and other faith festivals | Various | Various | No, though some employers give a day off |
When is Mother’s Day in UAE? Always on 21 March, the first day of spring, a tradition adopted across the Arab world in the 1950s.
When’s Father’s Day? It isn’t fixed in the UAE. Most families use the third Sunday of June: 21 June 2026 and 20 June 2027.
How to Make the Most of a Holiday in UAE
- Plan leave around bridges. One or two days of annual leave next to a holiday can double your break, like the private sector Eid Al Adha 2026 example above.
- Book early for Eid and National Day. Flights and hotels fill up quickly, and prices rise.
- Expect shorter hours. Government offices close, and banks, clinics and some shops run shorter hours.
- Use member discounts. If you’re eligible, a Fazaa card gives discounts on hotels and entertainment tickets that can help during long breaks.
- Check paid parking and Salik rules. Parking is often free on public holidays in Dubai, but always check the signs or the RTA announcement for that holiday.
