UAE Public Holidays 2026 and 2027: Next Holiday, Dates and Long Weekends

UAE public holidays for the rest of 2026 come down to one date: National Day, also called Eid Al Etihad, on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. It is the next public holiday and the last one of the year. If your weekend is Saturday and Sunday, one day of leave on Friday 4 December gives you a five-day break. After that, 2027 starts with New Year's Day on a Friday, and Eid Al Fitr follows in early March.

Here you'll find every UAE public holiday in 2026, with the dates people actually had off. You'll also find the expected 2027 dates, the best long weekends, and the rules on when a holiday can move. Finally, we explain what the holidays mean for private-sector staff, school families and visitors to Dubai. If relatives plan to join you for a holiday, start their Dubai visit visa application early.

When Is the Next Public Holiday in the UAE?

The next public holiday is National Day on 2 and 3 December. The federal holiday list fixes these two dates every year. In 2026, they fall on a Wednesday and a Thursday. Here is how that week looks for most workers:

However, watch the news in mid-November. The Cabinet can move a holiday to the start or end of the working week. It did exactly that in 2025, when National Day moved to Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December. Until a new decision appears for 2026, plan around 2 and 3 December.

The Next Long Weekend in the UAE

National Day is also the next long weekend. Staff with Saturday and Sunday off get two holiday days in the middle of the week. So one day of leave on Friday 4 December links them into five days in a row. Sharjah government staff already have Fridays off, so they get the same five days without using any leave. After that, the next long weekend is New Year's Day on Friday 1 January 2027, which runs straight into the weekend.

UAE Public Holidays in December 2026

December holds the last UAE public holidays of the year. Here is the full picture for the month:

• Monday 30 November: Commemoration Day, marked across the country but a working day.
• Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December: National Day public holiday.
• Monday 14 December: school winter break starts for students.
• Friday 25 December: Christmas Day, a normal working day, although many hotels and restaurants hold celebrations.
• Thursday 31 December: New Year's Eve, a working day before the New Year's Day holiday.

UAE Public Holidays 2026: Full List of Dates

All UAE public holidays apply to both the public and private sectors. Five of them follow the Islamic Hijri calendar, so the government confirmed their final dates only shortly before each one. This table shows the rule and the dates people actually had off in 2026:

In total, private-sector employees get 13 paid public holiday days in 2026. Several of them created long weekends. For example, the Eid Al Fitr break began on Thursday 19 March. That day was the 30th day of Ramadan, because the moon-sighting committee didn't see the crescent on the 29th. As a result, staff had four days off through Sunday. Similarly, the Prophet's Birthday was expected on Tuesday 25 August, but the day off moved to Friday 28 August. That gave a three-day weekend to anyone off on Saturday and Sunday. For the exact legal wording, see the official list of UAE public holidays.

Dubai Public Holidays 2026

Dubai doesn't have a separate holiday list for private companies. The same UAE public holidays apply in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates. In addition, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department issues its own circular for Dubai government entities. Local governments can give extra days to their own departments. However, that doesn't create an extra holiday for private companies in the emirate.

How Many UAE Public Holidays Are There Each Year?

The official list covers seven occasions. Together, they give private-sector staff 12 or 13 paid days a year, depending on how long Ramadan lasts. Some of those days may also land on a weekend. In 2026, the total reached 13, because Ramadan ran to 30 days and Eid Al Fitr became a four-day holiday.

UAE Public Holidays 2027: Expected Dates

The government hasn't published the final 2027 dates yet. Still, the fixed holidays are certain, and astronomers can estimate the Islamic ones. In addition, the Ministry of Education's school calendar already blocks out the expected Eid periods. Here are the expected UAE public holidays for 2027:

Two details stand out. First, Hijri New Year and the Prophet's Birthday may both fall on a weekend in 2027. Under the holiday rules, a public holiday that lands on the weekend doesn't move to a working day. So unless the moon sighting shifts them by a day, or the Cabinet decides otherwise, those two may not give anyone a weekday off. Second, every Islamic date in this table is provisional until the government announces it.

Long Weekends to Plan in 2027

Most long weekends in 2027 come from UAE public holidays that sit next to the weekend. These are the breaks to plan around:

• New Year: Friday 1 January joins the weekend for a three-day break.
• Eid Al Fitr: the holiday should run from Tuesday to Thursday or Friday. So one or two days of leave can stretch it to most of a week. Monday 8 March is already a school holiday.
• Eid Al Adha: Arafat Day on a Saturday, then Eid from Sunday to Tuesday, gives a four-day break from Saturday 15 May.
• National Day: Thursday and Friday holidays join the weekend for four days off, from 2 to 5 December.

What Each UAE Public Holiday Celebrates

Each occasion has its own meaning. Here's what each one marks and how people usually spend it.

New Year's Day

New Year's Day is the only holiday tied to the international calendar. It follows one of Dubai's biggest nights of the year, with fireworks at Burj Khalifa, on the beaches and at major attractions. It is a single day off. However, it becomes a long weekend whenever it sits next to the weekend, as it does in 2027.

Eid Al Fitr

Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. The day starts with morning prayers. Then families visit each other, children receive gifts and new clothes, and people share large meals. It is the longest regular break of the year, so shops, malls and attractions are at their busiest.

Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha

Arafat Day falls on 9 Dhul Hijjah, the most important day of the Hajj pilgrimage. Many Muslims fast on this day. Eid Al Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, then follows for three days. It remembers Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. Families gather, and they share meat from the sacrifice with relatives and people in need.

Hijri New Year

The first day of Muharram opens the Islamic year. It is a quiet, reflective day rather than a festive one. So expect a normal weekend feel in the city, without big public events.

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

This holiday falls on 12 Rabi Al Awwal and honours the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Because its date moves each year, it is one of the holidays most often shifted to the start or end of the week. That happened in 2026.

National Day, or Eid Al Etihad

National Day marks the union of the emirates on 2 December 1971. Six emirates joined that day, and Ras Al Khaimah followed early in 1972. Today it is the country's biggest civic celebration. Expect fireworks, parades, heritage shows and buildings lit in the national colours. In 2026, the country celebrates its 55th National Day.

How Islamic Holiday Dates Are Confirmed

Five UAE public holidays follow the Hijri calendar, which is lunar. Its months last 29 or 30 days, so each Islamic year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. That is why Eid comes earlier every year. It is also why the government confirms exact dates only shortly before each holiday.

In the UAE, the moon-sighting committee meets on the 29th day of the relevant month. If it sees the crescent that evening, the new month begins the next day. If not, the current month runs to 30 days. For Eid Al Fitr, this creates the familiar four-day pattern. The holiday covers 1 to 3 Shawwal, and the 30th of Ramadan joins it if the month lasts 30 days.

Government announcements usually give the full range early, with one day marked as conditional. Astronomers, including the Emirates Astronomy Society, also publish expected dates months ahead. These are usually right to within a day. That is close enough to book leave, but not close enough for non-refundable travel on the edge of the holiday.

Can UAE Public Holidays Be Moved?

Yes, within limits. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets the current holiday rules. It lets the Cabinet move public holidays to the first or last working day of the week, so people get longer breaks. Three rules shape how this works:

• The two Eid holidays stay on their Hijri dates. The Cabinet doesn't move them for convenience.
• A holiday that clashes with another holiday, or lands on a Saturday or Sunday, stays where it is.
• Employers can give extra days off, but they can't remove an official holiday.

Recent decisions show the rule in action. In 2026, the Prophet's Birthday moved from a Tuesday to Friday 28 August. In 2025, National Day moved forward to a Monday and Tuesday. Still, a move only counts once the government announces it. So don't change flights because of a prediction on social media.

Notice periods are also short. In 2026, the government confirmed the Hijri New Year holiday on 3 June, for 15 June. It announced the Prophet's Birthday holiday on 7 August, for 28 August. In 2025, the federal government confirmed its National Day dates in mid-November, about two weeks ahead. A similar timeline is likely this year.

Is Commemoration Day a UAE Public Holiday?

Commemoration Day falls on 30 November. It honours Emiratis who gave their lives in service of the country. Flags fly at half-mast in the morning, and people across the country observe a minute of silence. However, it is not a separate paid holiday under the current federal list. So Monday 30 November 2026 is a normal working day for most employees. In some earlier years, it joined the National Day break, which explains the confusion.

UAE Public Holidays for Private-Sector Employees

The government unified the public and private holiday calendars, so private-sector staff now get the same occasions as government staff. For each Islamic holiday, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirms the dates for private companies. Usually, they match the federal dates. However, the 2026 Eid Al Adha break showed they can differ by a day. Federal entities closed from Monday 25 May, while private-sector staff started on Tuesday 26 May.

Working on a Public Holiday: Pay and Time Off

Under the UAE Labour Law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, public holidays are paid. If your employer needs you to work on one, you can claim a substitute day off. Alternatively, your employer can pay your normal wage for the day plus at least 50% of your basic wage. Hotel, retail, healthcare, aviation and transport staff often work through holidays on this basis. So check your contract or company policy to see how your employer handles it.

Ramadan itself isn't a public holiday. Even so, private-sector working hours normally drop by two hours a day during the month, and many government entities shorten their hours too. In 2027, Ramadan should begin around Monday 8 February.

Are Banks Closed on UAE Public Holidays?

Yes. Banks close on official public holidays, usually after a notice from the Central Bank of the UAE. They reopen on the next working day. Meanwhile, ATMs, mobile banking and card payments keep working. However, banks may only process transfers and cheques after they reopen. So send salary-related or urgent payments before a long break.

Federal Government, Dubai and Sharjah Schedules

Federal government employees work Monday to Thursday, plus a shorter Friday, and have Saturday and Sunday off. As a result, a Thursday holiday often creates a natural long weekend. Dubai's government follows the federal holiday list, with its own circulars for Dubai entities. Sharjah's government, on the other hand, works a four-day week with Friday to Sunday off. So a Wednesday and Thursday National Day gives Sharjah staff five days off without any leave. Many private companies follow a Saturday to Sunday weekend, but some still work Saturdays. In the end, your own schedule decides how long each break is.

UAE School Holidays 2026 to 2027

The country approved one school calendar for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. It covers public schools and most private schools. However, schools that follow Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi curricula set their own dates. These are the main breaks for students:

Note that schools give students Friday 4 December off as part of National Day. Yet that day isn't an official holiday for most workers. So parents who want the whole family free that week will need a day of annual leave. The second term begins on Monday 4 January 2027. Private schools that don't follow the national curriculum may also split their mid-term break differently, so check with your child's school. In short, school breaks don't always line up with UAE public holidays.

Planning a Dubai Trip Around UAE Public Holidays

For visitors, UAE public holidays are often a great time to be in Dubai. The city doesn't shut down. Malls, beaches, hotels, restaurants and most attractions stay open, often with longer hours and special events. For example, National Day brings fireworks, heritage shows and flags on buildings everywhere. Meanwhile, New Year's Eve fireworks at Burj Khalifa draw huge crowds. Eid holidays add family events, late-night shopping and fireworks in several areas.

The trade-off is demand, because UAE public holidays are peak travel weeks. Hotel rates and flight prices rise around Eid, National Day, Christmas and New Year. During these weeks, many residents travel abroad, while visitors arrive from across the region, India and Europe. So book early, and expect very busy roads, beaches and parks on holiday afternoons. Government offices and banks close on official holidays. However, the Dubai Metro and taxis keep running, and the metro often stays open later for big events.

What Stays Open on UAE Public Holidays

Most of daily life carries on during UAE public holidays. Malls, supermarkets and restaurants open as usual, and many stay open later. Pharmacies keep normal hours, and some run around the clock. Hospitals keep their emergency departments open, although outpatient clinics may close or run shorter hours. On the other hand, government service centres, courts and most bank branches close until the next working day.

Getting around is usually easy. The Dubai Metro, buses, taxis and ride-hailing apps all run, and the metro often stays open later for fireworks and big events. In addition, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority often makes public parking free during Eid and National Day, while multi-storey car parks still charge. It announces these changes shortly before each break, so check its update before you rely on free parking. Salik road tolls still apply on holidays.

Visiting Dubai During Ramadan

Ramadan is a quieter but rewarding time to visit. Restaurants and cafes generally stay open during the day. Still, it's polite not to eat, drink or smoke openly in public while people are fasting. In the evenings, the city comes alive with iftar meals, Ramadan tents and night markets, and many attractions stay open later. Dress modestly in public areas and keep music low. Also expect shorter office hours. The month then ends with Eid Al Fitr, one of the busiest holidays of the year.

How UAE Public Holidays Affect Visas and Government Services

UAE public holidays matter most if you're waiting on paperwork. Government service centres close on official holidays, and typing and medical fitness centres often cut their hours. Online portals stay open. However, an application that needs staff review may wait until offices reopen. Over a four-day Eid break, that can add several days to any process.

So if you need a visa for a holiday trip to Dubai, apply well before the break begins. You can track your file on our visa status checker. For trips only days away, our express Dubai visa service puts urgent files first. Residents who invite parents or siblings for Eid or the winter break should start those applications about three weeks before the holiday, when demand is lower. Also, many nationalities don't need a visa in advance at all. Our guide to visa on arrival in Dubai explains who qualifies, and the Dubai visa eligibility checker covers every passport.

Remember that a public holiday doesn't pause your visa. If your permitted stay ends during Eid or National Day, you must leave or extend before it expires. Overstay fines still apply on holidays. If you want to stay longer, request an inside-country visa extension a few working days before the break, not on its last afternoon.

Planning a holiday visit to Dubai? Apply now for your visa so it's approved before the holiday rush. Apply now for your Dubai visa, or contact us if you're not sure which visa fits your dates.

UAE Public Holidays Planning Checklist

• Use the officially announced date, not an early forecast, before you book non-refundable travel.
• Find out which announcement your employer follows, federal or private-sector, and check your own weekend.
• Count public holidays, weekend days and annual leave separately when you plan a break.
• Expect any holiday move to come only a week or two in advance.
• Book flights and hotels early for Eid, National Day and the winter school break.
• Finish visa, Emirates ID or document applications before government offices close.
• Remember that school holidays and public holidays don't always match, especially around National Day.

UAE public holidays are easy to follow once you separate the fixed dates from the moon-based ones. National Day on 2 and 3 December closes out 2026. Then the 2027 calendar should bring long weekends at New Year, both Eids and National Day. If you plan to spend one of those breaks in Dubai with friends or family from abroad, apply early, and our team will help you pick the right visa before the rush.