New Year's Day National
New Year's Day on 1 January marks the start of the Gregorian calendar year. It is an official day off in UAE, reflecting the Gregorian calendar's role in government and business.
UAE Public Holidays 2026
Official Calendar
Complete Guide to Islamic Holidays, National Days & Work Schedule in United Arab Emirates
UAE Public Holidays List 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day | Hijri date | Days off | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday | 12 Rajab 1447 AH | 1 day | National | |
| Eid al-Fitr | Friday | 1 Shawwal 1447 AH | 4 days (19 March – 22 March) | Religious | |
| Arafat Day | Tuesday | 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH | 1 day | Religious | |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH | 3 days (27 May – 29 May) | Religious | |
| Islamic New Year | Tuesday | 1 Muharram 1448 AH | 1 day (15 June) | Religious | |
| Prophet's Birthday | Tuesday | 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH | 1 day (28 August) | Religious | |
| UAE National Day | Wednesday | 22 Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH | 2 days (2 December – 3 December) | National |
Weekend days: Saturday and Sunday
Note: Religious holiday dates may vary based on moon sighting and could change by one day. Please check official sources for confirmation.
Long Weekends 2026
Plan your vacations! There are 4 long weekends this year where public holidays connect with regular weekend days.
-
4 days off 19 March – 22 March
Eid al-Fitr
-
6 days off 26 May – 31 May
Arafat Day + Eid al-Adha
-
3 days off 13 June – 15 June
Islamic New Year
-
3 days off 28 August – 30 August
Prophet's Birthday
UAE Calendar 2026
Public holiday Weekend
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — New Year's Day | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 1 January New Year's Day
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 — Eid al-Fitr | 20 — Eid al-Fitr | 21 — Eid al-Fitr | 22 — Eid al-Fitr |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
- 20 March Eid al-Fitr
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 — Arafat Day | 27 — Eid al-Adha | 28 — Eid al-Adha | 29 — Eid al-Adha | 30 | 31 |
- 26 May Arafat Day
- 27 May Eid al-Adha
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 — Islamic New Year | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
- 16 June Islamic New Year
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 — Prophet's Birthday | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
- 25 August Prophet's Birthday
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 — UAE National Day | 3 — UAE National Day | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- 2 December UAE National Day
Religious Holidays
- Based on Islamic (Hijri) calendar
- May vary based on moon sighting
- Move about 11 days earlier each Gregorian year
National Holidays
- Fixed dates every year
- Celebrate historical events
- Usually single-day observances
2026 Holiday Summary
- Total public holidays
- 7
- National holidays
- 2
- Religious holidays
- 5
- Total days off
- 13
- Long weekends
- 4
- Weekend days
- Saturday and Sunday
About Public Holidays in UAE
The United Arab Emirates observes a blend of national and Islamic public holidays reflecting both its modern federal identity and its Islamic heritage. National holidays include UAE National Day on 2 December, commemorating the formation of the federation in 1971, as well as New Year's Day in recognition of the country's international business role. Religious holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar and include Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, the Islamic New Year, and the Prophet's Birthday, with exact dates confirmed annually by official moon sighting committees. A notable distinction sets the UAE apart from most Gulf neighbours: in January 2022, the country shifted its official weekend from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday, aligning its working week with global financial markets and making it easier for international businesses to operate across time zones. The UAE's economy is driven by oil and gas, tourism, international trade, and financial services, with the Saturday-Sunday weekend aligning with global markets. Islamic holiday dates such as Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha shift annually according to the lunar Hijri calendar.
Practical Information for Residents and Visitors
- All federal and local government offices close on official public holidays.
- Private sector employers are legally required to grant paid leave on public holidays under UAE Labour Law.
- Shopping malls and restaurants typically operate extended hours during Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha.
- The official UAE moon sighting committee confirms Islamic holiday dates, usually one to two days before the event.
Official source: Government of UAE
Public Holiday Details 2026
Eid al-Fitr Religious
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and falls on 1 Shawwal in the Hijri calendar. Families attend the Eid prayer in the morning, visit relatives and exchange gifts, and children traditionally receive Eidiya money. The exact start is confirmed by moon sighting, so the date can move by one day. See Eid 2026 dates for all Arab countries.
Arafat Day Religious
Arafat Day falls on 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, when pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat for the most important rite of the Hajj. Many Muslims who are not on pilgrimage fast on this day. It immediately precedes Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha Religious
Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, begins on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the day after pilgrims stand at Mount Arafat during the Hajj. Muslims perform the Eid prayer and many sacrifice a sheep or other livestock, sharing the meat with family, neighbours and those in need. It is the longest public holiday of the year in most Arab countries. See Eid 2026 dates for all Arab countries.
Islamic New Year Religious
The Islamic New Year (Ras al-Sana al-Hijriya) falls on 1 Muharram and marks the start of a new Hijri year, commemorating the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. It is a quiet, reflective holiday rather than a festive one.
Prophet's Birthday Religious
Al-Mawlid al-Nabawi commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad on 12 Rabi al-Awwal. In UAE it is an official holiday, often marked with religious lectures, poetry recitals in praise of the Prophet and traditional sweets.
UAE National Day National
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on 2 December celebrates the formation of the federation of the seven emirates in 1971. It is a two-day holiday, preceded by Commemoration Day honouring the nation's martyrs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does UAE have in 2026?
UAE has 7 public holidays in 2026: 2 national and 5 religious, adding up to about 13 days off.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2026 in UAE?
Eid al-Fitr in UAE falls on Friday, 20 March 2026 (1 Shawwal 1447 AH), with 4 days off (19 March to 22 March).
When is Eid al-Adha 2026 in UAE?
Eid al-Adha in UAE falls on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 (10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), with 3 days off (27 May to 29 May).
What are the weekend days in UAE?
The official weekend in UAE is Saturday and Sunday.
How many long weekends are there in UAE in 2026?
There are 4 long weekends where public holidays connect with the weekend. The longest is 6 days, from 26 May to 31 May.