UAE public holidays 2026 and 2027

The UAE public holidays 2026 and 2027 calendar: one list for the government and the private sector. Confirmed dates link to their announcement; expected dates follow the law and the Islamic calendar and can move with the moon sighting.

UAE public holidays 2026: 13 days

  1. New Year

    Thu 1 Jan

    Thursday.

    1 dayConfirmedAnnouncement

  2. Eid Al Fitr

    Thu 19 Mar to Sun 22 Mar

    Ramadan ran 30 days, so the holiday covered 30 Ramadan and 1 to 3 Shawwal. Eid was Friday 20 March.

    4 daysConfirmedMoon sightingAnnouncement

  3. Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha

    Tue 26 May to Fri 29 May

    Arafat Day Tuesday 26 May, Eid Al Adha from Wednesday 27 May.

    4 daysConfirmedMoon sightingAnnouncement

  4. Hijri New Year

    Mon 15 Jun

    Moved to Monday 15 June; 1 Muharram was Tuesday 16 June.

    1 dayConfirmedMoon sightingAnnouncement

  5. The Prophet's Birthday

    Fri 28 Aug

    Moved to Friday 28 August; 12 Rabi Al Awwal was Tuesday 25 August.

    1 dayConfirmedMoon sightingAnnouncement

  6. National Day (Eid Al Etihad)

    Wed 2 Dec to Thu 3 Dec

    Wednesday and Thursday under the resolution. Not yet announced; in 2025 the holiday was moved to 1 and 2 December.

    2 daysExpected

UAE public holidays 2027: 12 or 13 days

  1. New Year

    Fri 1 Jan

    Friday. Not yet announced.

    1 dayExpected

  2. Eid Al Fitr

    Tue 9 Mar to Thu 11 Mar

    Expected from Tuesday 9 March. If Ramadan runs 30 days, 9 March becomes 30 Ramadan and the holiday runs 9 to 12 March. Depends on moon sighting.

    3 daysExpectedMoon sighting

  3. Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha

    Sat 15 May to Tue 18 May

    Arafat Day expected Saturday 15 May, Eid Al Adha from Sunday 16 May. Depends on moon sighting.

    4 daysExpectedMoon sighting

  4. Hijri New Year

    Sun 6 Jun

    Expected Sunday 6 June. Depends on moon sighting, and the Cabinet may move it to the start or end of the week.

    1 dayExpectedMoon sighting

  5. The Prophet's Birthday

    Sat 14 Aug

    Expected Saturday 14 August. Depends on moon sighting, and the Cabinet may move it.

    1 dayExpectedMoon sighting

  6. National Day (Eid Al Etihad)

    Thu 2 Dec to Fri 3 Dec

    Thursday and Friday under the resolution. Not yet announced.

    2 daysExpected

The UAE's themes of the year

Each year the President names a national theme. The list follows the official UAE Year Of site.

  1. 2026Year of the FamilyGrowing in Unity
  2. 2025Year of CommunityHand in Hand
  3. 2024Year of SustainabilityPlan to Action
  4. 2023Year of SustainabilityToday for Tomorrow
  5. 2021Year of the 50th
  6. 2020Towards the Next 50
  7. 2019Year of Tolerance
  8. 2018Year of Zayed
  9. 2017Year of Giving
  10. 2016Year of Reading
  11. 2015Year of Innovation

Plan your long weekends around UAE holidays 2026 and 2027

6 breaks for 2026, Saturday and Sunday, up to 2 leave days.

  • New Year

    Confirmed

    Thu 1 Jan

    • No leave: 1 day off, Thu 1 Jan
    • Take 1 day off (Fri 2 Jan): 4 days off, Thu 1 Jan to Sun 4 Jan
    • Take 2 days off (Fri 2 Jan, Mon 5 Jan): 5 days off, Thu 1 Jan to Mon 5 Jan

  • Eid Al Fitr

    ConfirmedMoon sighting

    Thu 19 Mar to Sun 22 Mar

    • No leave: 4 days off, Thu 19 Mar to Sun 22 Mar
    • Take 1 day off (Mon 23 Mar): 5 days off, Thu 19 Mar to Mon 23 Mar
    • Take 2 days off (Mon 23 Mar, Tue 24 Mar): 6 days off, Thu 19 Mar to Tue 24 Mar

  • Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha

    ConfirmedMoon sighting

    Tue 26 May to Fri 29 May

    • No leave: 6 days off, Tue 26 May to Sun 31 May
    • Take 1 day off (Mon 25 May): 9 days off, Sat 23 May to Sun 31 May
    • Take 2 days off (Mon 25 May, Mon 1 Jun): 10 days off, Sat 23 May to Mon 1 Jun

  • Hijri New Year

    ConfirmedMoon sighting

    Mon 15 Jun

    • No leave: 3 days off, Sat 13 Jun to Mon 15 Jun
    • Take 1 day off (Tue 16 Jun): 4 days off, Sat 13 Jun to Tue 16 Jun
    • Take 2 days off (Tue 16 Jun, Wed 17 Jun): 5 days off, Sat 13 Jun to Wed 17 Jun

  • The Prophet's Birthday

    ConfirmedMoon sighting

    Fri 28 Aug

    • No leave: 3 days off, Fri 28 Aug to Sun 30 Aug
    • Take 1 day off (Mon 31 Aug): 4 days off, Fri 28 Aug to Mon 31 Aug
    • Take 2 days off (Mon 31 Aug, Tue 1 Sep): 5 days off, Fri 28 Aug to Tue 1 Sep

  • National Day (Eid Al Etihad)

    Expected

    Wed 2 Dec to Thu 3 Dec

    • No leave: 2 days off, Wed 2 Dec to Thu 3 Dec
    • Take 1 day off (Fri 4 Dec): 5 days off, Wed 2 Dec to Sun 6 Dec
    • Take 2 days off (Fri 4 Dec, Mon 7 Dec): 6 days off, Wed 2 Dec to Mon 7 Dec

Expected dates follow the resolution and the Islamic calendar, and can move by a day or two with the moon sighting. Check the announcement before you book.

Public holidays in the UAE, explained

How many public holidays does the UAE have?

Seven occasions, which come to around 12 to 13 days a year: New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and National Day. The same list applies to the government and the private sector.

Why are some dates marked expected?

Islamic holidays follow the moon, so their dates are only confirmed after the moon sighting, and the Cabinet can move some holidays to the start or end of the week. Until a date is announced, we show the expected date and say so.

Do private-sector employees get the same holidays?

Yes. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets one list of public holidays for both sectors, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announces the private-sector dates.

What if I have to work on a public holiday?

Under the UAE labour law your employer must give you another day off for each holiday you work, or pay you the normal wage for that day plus at least 50% of your basic wage for it.

How do I get the longest break?

Use the planner above: pick the year and your weekend, and it shows how many days off each break gives with no leave, and what each extra day of leave adds.

The law behind these figures

Every figure on this page comes from the rules below, checked 17 October 2026.

Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on public holidays

  • Art. 1One list of public holidays for the government and the private sector: New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and National Day. Islamic holidays follow the moon, and the Cabinet may move a holiday other than the Eids to the start or end of the week.
Read the official text uaelegislation.gov.ae

UAE Government portal (u.ae)

  • Guide: public holidaysThe government list of public holidays, applicable to both the public and private sectors, with Islamic holidays set by moon sighting.
Read the government guide u.ae

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021

  • Art. 28(2)If work conditions require a worker to work on a public holiday, the employer compensates with another day off for each day worked, or pays the wage for that day at the normal working-day rate, plus an increase of not less than 50% of the basic wage for that day.
Read the official text mohre.gov.ae

A guide to the legal minimum for private-sector employers on the mainland and in most free zones. DIFC and ADGM have their own employment laws, and a contract can give more. It is not legal advice.

Also free: working days calculator, leave calculator, and every UAE tool.

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