UAE Public Holidays 2026 and 2027: Dates and Long Weekends
The remaining 2026 UAE public holidays and the expected 2027 calendar, which dates depend on the moon, and how to turn each break into a long weekend.
Planning leave around UAE public holidays is one of the best ways to stretch your annual allowance. A handful of well-placed days off can turn a few holidays into breaks of nine days or more. The catch is that several dates depend on the sighting of the moon, so the exact days are confirmed only shortly beforehand.
This guide covers the public holidays still to come in 2026 and the expected calendar for 2027. It explains which dates are fixed and which are expected, and suggests long weekends and short trips for each. Use our holiday planner to test different leave combinations, and see the full list on our holidays page.
Remaining 2026 holidays and 2027 at a glance
| Holiday | Date | Day of week | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commemoration Day | 1 December 2026 | Tuesday | Fixed |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | 2 and 3 December 2026 | Wednesday and Thursday | Fixed |
| New Year's Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | About 9 to 12 March 2027 | Tuesday to Friday | Moon-dependent, expected |
| Arafat Day | About 15 May 2027 | Saturday | Moon-dependent, expected |
| Eid Al Adha | About 16 to 18 May 2027 | Sunday to Tuesday | Moon-dependent, expected |
| Islamic New Year | About 6 June 2027 | Sunday | Moon-dependent, expected |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | About 14 August 2027 | Saturday | Moon-dependent, expected |
| Commemoration Day | 1 December 2027 | Wednesday | Fixed |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | 2 and 3 December 2027 | Thursday and Friday | Fixed |
An important note on accuracy. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, whose months begin with the sighting of the new moon. The UAE announces the official dates, usually a few days before, and the Cabinet or the relevant authority decides how many days are given. Treat every "expected" date above as subject to official announcement. Use the Hijri converter to see the equivalent dates, and check the UAE government portal at u.ae for confirmations.
How the UAE handles holidays
- Weekend. Most employers observe Saturday and Sunday, and federal and many Dubai government entities work a shorter Friday. This means a Friday-to-Sunday break is only one weekday off for most staff.
- Private sector. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announces the private-sector list, and it usually mirrors the federal one.
- Holidays moved to Monday or Friday. In recent years the UAE has sometimes moved a midweek holiday to the nearest Friday or Monday to create a longer weekend. Do not book non-refundable travel on the assumption that a Tuesday holiday will stay on Tuesday.
- Working on a public holiday. If you are required to work, the labour law gives you either a substitute day off or pay at your basic wage plus at least 50%. Read the details in our labour law guide.
- Ramadan. Ramadan is not a public holiday, but private-sector working hours are reduced by two hours a day. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027.
Holiday by holiday
Commemoration Day (1 December 2026) and Eid Al Etihad (2 and 3 December 2026)
Commemoration Day honours the UAE's martyrs and falls on Tuesday 1 December. National Day follows on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. Together this is a Tuesday-to-Thursday block.
- Nine-day break: take Monday 30 November and Friday 4 December as leave. You are then away from Saturday 28 November to Sunday 6 December, two leave days for nine days off.
- Six-day break: take only Friday 4 December (a short day for many) and you are off from Tuesday 1 to Sunday 6 December.
- Trip ideas: December is the best weather of the year, so staying in the UAE is hugely attractive. Look at Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Hatta, Musandam in Oman, Jordan's Wadi Rum, Egypt's Red Sea coast, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Expect community celebrations, light shows and fireworks across several emirates, and heavy traffic at popular spots.
New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027)
A single day, falling on a Friday, so most people get a three-day weekend with no leave at all. Taking Monday 4 January as leave stretches it to four days. It suits a quick Gulf getaway. Dubai and Abu Dhabi stage large fireworks displays on New Year's Eve, so book restaurants and hotels well ahead.
Eid Al Fitr (expected about 9 to 12 March 2027)
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and the break is expected to run from Tuesday 9 March to Friday 12 March 2027. The exact length depends on the moon: authorities sometimes announce the last day of Ramadan plus the first three days of Shawwal.
Make the most of it:
- Nine-day break: take Monday 8 March as leave. You are then off from Saturday 6 March to Sunday 14 March for a single leave day.
- Trip ideas: March is mild across the Gulf and in the Mediterranean and Central Asia. Fujairah, Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Jordan and the Caucasus all work well.
Eid flights sell out early, so book as soon as the dates look firm, and be ready for fare changes after the official announcement.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (expected about 15 to 18 May 2027)
The Hajj season brings Arafat Day (the 9th of Dhul Hijjah), expected on Saturday 15 May, followed by Eid Al Adha, expected to cover Sunday 16 May to Tuesday 18 May. Because the first days land on the weekend, the break is only two weekdays off (Monday and Tuesday) unless the authorities compensate with extra days.
- Five-day break: take Friday 14 May as leave and you are off from Friday 14 to Tuesday 18 May for a single leave day.
- Ten-day break: also take Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May and you are away from Friday 14 to Sunday 23 May for four leave days.
- Trip ideas: May is already hot in the UAE, so head for cooler air. Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, the Balkans, the Swiss and Italian lakes, or the Maldives suit this slot. If you are staying, hotels in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah are cooler by the sea and the mountains.
Islamic New Year (expected about 6 June 2027)
The Hijri New Year falls on 1 Muharram and is expected on Sunday 6 June 2027. That is a weekend day for most people, so it may be moved to Monday 7 June or Friday 4 June, in which case you get a standard three-day weekend with no leave. Wait for the official notice before planning around it.
This is the start of the hot summer, and the Khareef monsoon season in Salalah, Oman, begins around late June, so short trips there or to the cooler hills of Georgia and Turkey are popular. See our weather and when to visit guide for guidance on temperatures.
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (expected about 14 August 2027)
Expected on Saturday 14 August 2027, which is a weekend day for most employees. In past years the UAE has moved or compensated for holidays that fall on a weekend, so do not assume you will gain a day off.
August is hot in the UAE and Gulf, so Salalah during the Khareef, Turkey's Black Sea coast, the Caucasus or Europe are the usual escapes. Many schools return in late August, so plan carefully with children.
Commemoration Day (1 December 2027) and Eid Al Etihad (2 and 3 December 2027)
In 2027 Commemoration Day falls on Wednesday 1 December, followed by National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December. With the weekend that is a five-day break from Wednesday to Sunday without using any leave (Friday is a short day for many).
- Nine-day break: take Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November as leave. You are then away from Saturday 27 November to Sunday 5 December, two leave days for nine days off.
- Trip ideas: December is the best weather of the year, so staying in the UAE is hugely attractive. Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Hatta and Musandam in Oman are popular choices, and so are Jordan, Egypt and Sri Lanka for a longer trip.
Quick leave-planning cheat sheet
| Break | Leave days needed | Total days off |
|---|---|---|
| National Day 2026 (Sat 28 Nov to Sun 6 Dec) | 2 | 9 |
| New Year 2027 (Fri 1 to Mon 4 Jan) | 1 | 4 |
| Eid Al Fitr 2027 (Sat 6 to Sun 14 Mar) | 1 | 9 |
| Eid Al Adha 2027 (Fri 14 to Tue 18 May) | 1 | 5 |
| National Day 2027 (Sat 27 Nov to Sun 5 Dec) | 2 | 9 |
These figures assume the dates fall as expected. If the holidays are moved or lengthened, adjust your plans.
Practical travel tips
- Book flexible fares until the official announcement.
- Check passport validity (usually six months) and visa rules for residents of your nationality.
- Compare costs with the cost of living tool and the currency converter, and keep the emergency numbers handy.
- Save a copy of the official notice from the UAE government portal in case your employer applies a different schedule.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next UAE public holiday?
The next holidays are Commemoration Day on 1 December 2026 and Eid Al Etihad (National Day) on 2 and 3 December 2026. Both are fixed dates, though the government may announce a longer break nearer the time.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
Eid Al Fitr 2027 is expected around Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March 2027. The date depends on the sighting of the moon, so wait for the official announcement before you book anything non-refundable.
When are Eid Al Adha and Arafat Day in 2027?
Arafat Day is expected around Saturday 15 May 2027 and Eid Al Adha around Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 May 2027. Like all Islamic holidays, these are expected dates until officially confirmed.
Can a public holiday be moved to a Monday or Friday?
Yes. The UAE authorities have moved some midweek holidays to the nearest Friday or Monday to create a long weekend, so keep your plans flexible until the official notice.
Do private-sector and public-sector holidays match?
Usually, though the number of days can differ. MOHRE announces the private-sector holidays, and federal and local government entities announce theirs. Always confirm with your own employer.
Written by Daleel UAE editorial team. Daleel UAE is a guide, not legal, financial or immigration advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority named before you act.
