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UAE Public Holidays 2026: Dates, Long Weekends & What’s Left
January 22, 2026
Last updated: October 21, 2026
The UAE had 13 official public holiday days in 2026, and as of today only one holiday is left: UAE National Day on December 2–3. This guide gives you the full, corrected 2026 calendar — with the actual announced dates, not the early-year predictions — plus the rules behind the dates, the leave hacks that worked this year, and how to squeeze a 5-day break out of the last holiday of the year.
Quick Answer: UAE Public Holidays 2026
Total: 13 public holiday days (Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, same for public and private sectors). Islamic dates below are the officially announced dates, confirmed by moon sighting during the year.
| Holiday | 2026 Dates | Days | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | 1 | Past |
| Eid Al Fitr holiday | Thursday, March 19 – Sunday, March 22 (Eid day: Friday, March 20) | 4 | Past |
| Arafat Day | Tuesday, May 26 | 1 | Past |
| Eid Al Adha holiday | Wednesday, May 27 – Friday, May 29 | 3 | Past |
| Islamic New Year | Monday, June 15 | 1 | Past |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (observed) | Monday, August 24 | 1 | Past |
| UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | Wednesday, December 2 – Thursday, December 3 | 2 | Coming next |
Commemoration Day (November 30) is observed in the UAE to honour Emirati martyrs, but it is not a separate day off in the standard public holiday list — the year-end break is the December 2–3 National Day holiday.
What’s Left in 2026: National Day, December 2–3
National Day is the last public holiday of 2026 and the biggest remaining travel window. December 2–3 fall on Wednesday and Thursday. Take Friday, December 4 off and you get a 5-day break (December 2–6) with just one leave day. Take Monday, November 30 and Friday, December 4 off and the break stretches to 9 days (November 28 – December 6) for two leave days.
Expect fireworks, parades, concerts and hotel promotions across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, plus winter-season events. If you are planning around it, see our long weekends in UAE guide and our Dubai winter guide for what to do with the break.
The 2026 Holidays, One by One
New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1
The year’s first holiday, fixed every year. Dubai’s New Year fireworks are the headline event; see our New Year fireworks in Dubai guide for the best viewing spots.
Eid Al Fitr — March 19–22 (Eid day: Friday, March 20)
The end of Ramadan, and the longest early-year break: four days, Thursday to Sunday, because Ramadan ran to 30 days in 2026. Early guides that predicted March 20–22 only missed the Thursday. Eid Al Fitr is the UAE’s biggest family holiday — staycations, mall events and short trips to Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey were the popular picks this year.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha — May 26–29
Arafat Day (Tuesday, May 26) plus Eid Al Adha (Wednesday, May 27 to Friday, May 29) made a four-day block, and with the weekend it stretched to six days (May 26–31) — the longest break of 2026. Many residents used it for long overseas trips and Umrah travel.
Islamic New Year — Monday, June 15
The first day of Muharram, year 1448 AH, announced as a Monday holiday by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. With the Saturday–Sunday weekend before it, it made a clean 3-day weekend.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday — Monday, August 24 (observed)
The birthday itself (12 Rabi al-Awwal) fell on Tuesday, August 25, but the holiday was moved to Monday, August 24 under the UAE’s holiday transfer rule — again making a 3-day weekend with August 22–23.
UAE National Day — December 2–3
Marks the formation of the UAE in 1971. Fireworks, parades, flag displays and cultural events across all seven emirates. It is the only holiday left in 2026 — plan it now, because hotels and flights for the National Day weekend sell out early.
How UAE Holiday Dates Actually Work
Three rules explain almost every date on this page:
- Public and private sectors get the same holidays. Since Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the official holiday list applies equally to government and private-sector employees.
- Islamic holidays move every year. They follow the Hijri lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Eid, Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday shift earlier each year. Exact dates are confirmed by moon sighting shortly before each occasion.
- Midweek holidays can be moved. Under the UAE’s holiday transfer rule, a public holiday falling midweek may be shifted to the start or end of the week to create a longer weekend — which is why Islamic New Year landed on Monday, June 15 and the Prophet’s Birthday holiday on Monday, August 24. Eid holidays are the exception: they are not moved.
For the difference between the two holiday systems in detail, see our Islamic vs public holidays in UAE explained.
Leave Hacks That Worked in 2026
| Break | Holiday days | Leave used | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid Al Fitr (Mar 19–22) | 4 | 0 | 4 days |
| Eid Al Adha (May 26–29) | 4 | 1 (Mon, May 25) | 9 days (May 23–31) |
| Islamic New Year (Jun 15) | 1 | 0 | 3 days (Jun 13–15) |
| Prophet’s Birthday (Aug 24) | 1 | 0 | 3 days (Aug 22–24) |
| National Day (Dec 2–3) | 2 | 1 (Fri, Dec 4) | 5 days (Dec 2–6) |
| National Day, max stretch | 2 | 2 (Nov 30 + Dec 4) | 9 days (Nov 28 – Dec 6) |
Planning Tips for the Last Holiday of 2026
- Book National Day travel now. Flights and hotels for December 2–6 are already in peak demand; prices rise fastest in the last month.
- Stay local or go short-haul. A 5-day break suits a UAE staycation (desert safari, Dubai Marina boat tour, Ras Al Khaimah mountains) or a 3–4 hour flight to Oman, Georgia or Azerbaijan.
- Check the day, not just the date. A Wednesday–Thursday holiday only becomes a long weekend if you take the Friday off — put the leave request in early.
FAQs — UAE Public Holidays 2026
How many public holidays are there in UAE in 2026?
13 official public holiday days: New Year’s Day (1), Eid Al Fitr (4), Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (4), Islamic New Year (1), Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (1) and National Day (2).
When was Eid Al Fitr in UAE 2026?
The Eid Al Fitr holiday ran Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22, 2026, with Eid day itself on Friday, March 20.
How long was the Eid Al Adha holiday in 2026?
Four days, from Tuesday, May 26 (Arafat Day) to Friday, May 29, 2026 — six days including the weekend.
Are the 2026 Islamic holiday dates confirmed?
Yes. Unlike early-year predictions, the dates on this page are the officially announced dates, confirmed by moon sighting during 2026.
What public holidays are left in UAE in 2026?
Only UAE National Day, Wednesday, December 2 to Thursday, December 3, 2026. Taking Friday, December 4 off turns it into a 5-day break.
Is Commemoration Day (November 30) a public holiday?
Commemoration Day on November 30 is observed to honour Emirati martyrs, but it is not a separate day off in the standard public holiday list. The year-end days off are December 2–3.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 calendar is now settled: 13 days, with only National Day left. If you take one thing from this guide, take the December 4 leave day — it turns the last holiday of the year into a 5-day break. And if you are already planning next year’s trips, remember the pattern: Islamic holidays move about 11 days earlier each year, and the transfer rule keeps turning Mondays into 3-day weekends.
Hi! We’re the Travel Blog Dubai Team — passionate travelers who explore Dubai every day to bring you honest tips, best places to visit, budget ideas, and real experiences.Whether you’re planning your first trip or you live in the UAE, our guides help you discover the best of Dubai, hassle-free.