UAE Public Holiday Calendar 2026: Confirmed Dates & Next Break

UAE public holidays in 2026 include New Year's Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday and UAE National Day. As of 16 September 2026, every 2026 holiday in that sequence has passed except the National Day period on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December.

For travellers and residents, the most useful date to plan now is the December break. If your normal weekend is Saturday and Sunday, taking annual leave on Friday 4 December can connect the two National Day dates with the weekend and create five consecutive days away from work. Friday 4 December is not itself a public holiday under the current base calendar.

This guide separates confirmed holiday dates from weekends and annual leave, explains the public- and private-sector rules, and shows how the remaining 2026 holiday can affect travel and time-sensitive government services.

UAE Public Holidays 2026: Quick Overview

The official UAE public-holiday page lists the nationwide holiday occasions that apply to the public and private sectors.

UAE Public Holidays 2026 Calendar

Islamic occasions are linked to the Hijri calendar, while the observed paid holiday is governed by the applicable official announcement. For planning, use the final government date rather than an old astronomical estimate or an earlier media prediction.

What Is the Next Public Holiday in the UAE?

The next scheduled UAE public holiday is National Day, also called Eid Al Etihad. The federal framework provides two holiday dates: 2 and 3 December.

In 2026, those dates fall on Wednesday and Thursday. This creates a useful leave-planning opportunity, but it is important to separate the actual public holidays from annual leave and the normal weekend.

For an employee with Saturday and Sunday off, this creates a five-day break from Wednesday 2 December through Sunday 6 December using one annual-leave day.

If you are planning travel around that period, use the Dubai travel visa guide to organise entry requirements separately from the holiday calendar.

Public vs Private-Sector Holiday Rules

The UAE's federal framework covers both public- and private-sector holidays, but the exact operational break can differ because FAHR and MoHRE issue sector-specific announcements.

The clearest 2026 example was Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha. Private-sector employees received paid leave from Tuesday 26 May through Friday 29 May. The federal-government break began one day earlier, on Monday 25 May, and continued through Friday 29 May.

This is why the federal holiday framework should be the starting point, followed by the announcement that applies to your employer or government entity.

What If You Have to Work on a Public Holiday?

Private-sector employees are entitled to paid leave on UAE public holidays. If work conditions require an employee to work on the holiday, UAE Labour Law provides for either another rest day or payment for that day plus an increase of at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.

Shift workers, hospitality staff, transport workers and other essential-service employees may therefore work while still having the statutory compensation entitlement that applies to the case.

Can UAE Public Holidays Be Moved?

Yes, but a holiday does not move automatically just because a longer weekend would be convenient.

Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the Cabinet may transfer public holidays other than the Eid holidays to the beginning or end of the working week.

The same resolution states that a public holiday cannot be transferred when it already coincides with another public holiday or falls on the weekend.

For travel and leave planning, use the current official date until an authorised decision changes it.

2026 UAE Holidays That Have Already Passed

Eid Al Fitr: 19–22 March 2026

The federal Eid Al Fitr break ran from Thursday 19 March through Sunday 22 March, with federal work resuming Monday 23 March. For private-sector employees, MoHRE initially announced 19–21 March and stated that 22 March would be included if Ramadan completed 30 days; the final break therefore reached 22 March.

Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha: May 2026

Private-sector employees received the paid holiday from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May. Federal ministries and entities received the longer break from Monday 25 May through Friday 29 May.

Hijri New Year: 15 June 2026

Monday 15 June was announced as the Hijri New Year holiday for federal-government entities and private-sector employees. Normal work resumed on Tuesday 16 June for standard schedules.

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday: 28 August 2026

The 2026 Prophet Muhammad's Birthday holiday was observed on Friday 28 August. For employees whose normal weekend is Saturday and Sunday, the Friday holiday created a three-day break through Sunday 30 August.

Is Commemoration Day a UAE Public Holiday?

Commemoration Day is observed on 30 November and honours Emirati martyrs. It is an important national occasion, but it is not listed as a separate statutory public holiday in the current federal holiday list under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.

Do not automatically add 30 November as another paid holiday when calculating the National Day break. Check any year-specific or local-government announcement separately.

Dubai Public Holidays 2026

Dubai follows the nationwide UAE public-holiday framework for the main federal holidays. That means the same core dates apply to New Year, Eid holidays, Hijri New Year, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday and National Day.

However, the federal resolution allows local governments to determine additional holidays for their own government departments and corporations. A Dubai Government circular can therefore affect Dubai government entities without automatically creating an extra private-sector holiday.

For tourists, public holidays also do not mean that the whole city closes. Hotels, malls, attractions, restaurants and transport services can remain open with holiday-specific operating hours. The Dubai travel information guide covers practical transport and visitor planning.

How Public Holidays Affect Government Services and Visa Processing

Government service centres and in-person appointments can close or operate differently during an official holiday. Digital portals may remain accessible, but a successful online submission does not necessarily mean that manual review continues during the closure.

This matters when an application requires staff review, biometric processing, a medical appointment, document collection or another office-based step.

If your travel date is close to a multi-day holiday, submit a complete file early enough to allow for both the normal processing period and non-working days. See the Dubai visa procedure guide for the normal application flow.

Travellers who are unsure whether they require advance permission can use the Dubai visa eligibility checker before planning around a holiday period.

Travel Planning Around UAE Public Holidays

Large holiday periods can change travel demand and operating schedules, so check flights, accommodation, attraction opening hours and transport plans before travelling.

For the remaining 2026 National Day period, separate the legal holiday from your personal leave plan. The base holiday dates are Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. Friday 4 December becomes part of a five-day break only if you take annual leave and normally have Saturday and Sunday off.

A longer trip can be organised using the Dubai travel itinerary guide. If you are only passing through the UAE, use the Dubai transit visa guide for the separate entry-permission question.

If visa price is part of your holiday budget, compare the current routes in the Dubai visitor visa cost guide.

UAE Public Holidays 2026 Planning Checklist

1. Use the final official holiday date, not an old forecast or social-media prediction.
2. Check the sector-specific circular if you work for a government entity or private employer.
3. Separate holidays, weekends and annual leave when counting a long break.
4. Do not assume a holiday transfer until an official decision is issued.
5. Confirm your own work schedule if you work shifts, weekends or essential services.
6. Complete time-sensitive bank or government tasks early before a multi-day closure.
7. Add processing buffer when a visa or government-service deadline sits close to a holiday.
8. For the December opportunity, remember that Friday 4 December is annual leave in the five-day plan, not a current public holiday.

Planning a Dubai Trip Around National Day?

Confirm the UAE entry route that applies to your passport before booking non-refundable travel around the December holiday period.

View Dubai Visitor Visa Options

UAE Public Holidays 2026: Final Summary

As of 16 September 2026, New Year's Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and Prophet Muhammad's Birthday have passed.

The next scheduled UAE public holidays are the National Day dates on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. For people who normally have Saturday and Sunday off, taking annual leave on Friday 4 December can create a five-day break through Sunday 6 December.

Use the federal holiday framework as the base, then check any later sector or local-government circular before finalising leave or travel.