The guide outlines the essential UAE public holiday dates for 2026, helping residents plan their time off in advance. Each year, the UAE’s public holiday regulations determine the official days of leave applicable across Dubai and the wider Emirates. For 2026, residents can look forward to at least 12 confirmed public holidays, including an extended six-day break expected in May. The UAE observes a combination of national and religious holidays, with Islamic dates determined through the Hijri calendar and others following the Gregorian system. The Hijri calendar is structured around lunar cycles, distinguishing it from the sun-based Gregorian calendar. This means that holidays such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, which depend on the Islamic calendar, are only formally announced a few days before they commence. However, astronomers can forecast the likely start dates of these occasions well in advance, allowing for early planning.
The UAE Public Holidays 2026
The anticipated UAE public holiday dates for 2026 are outlined below, in line with the public holiday law introduced in January 2025 and established in April 2024.
Current forecasts suggest that Eid Al Fitr will provide a three-day long weekend.
Eid Al Adha, together with Arafat Day, is expected to create an extended six-day break when combined with Saturday and Sunday.
Other predicted public holidays in 2026 are likely to fall mid-week, providing occasional pauses during the workweek.
With the Islamic New Year and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) projected to fall on a Tuesday, these holidays are likely to be shifted to the start of the week to allow for a long weekend.
At present, most UAE public holidays in 2026 are expected not to coincide with weekends, although final dates may change depending on moon sightings.
Predicted public holiday dates for 2026:
New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January
Eid Al Fitr: Friday, 20 March – Sunday, 22 March
Arafat Day: Tuesday, 26 May
Eid Al Adha: Wednesday, 27 May – Friday, 29 May
Islamic New Year: Monday, 15 June (officially scheduled for Tuesday, 16 June; shifted to the start of the week)
The Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH): Monday, 24 August (officially scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August; shifted to the start of the week)
National Day: Wednesday, 2 December and Thursday, 3 December
It is important to note that the UAE public holiday law permits local authorities to introduce additional public holidays beyond those listed above if they so wish.
Public holidays cannot be carried over if they coincide with another holiday or fall on a weekend. In 2026, this is not expected to pose any issues, as none of the Islamic holidays overlap with those based on the Gregorian calendar.
Nonetheless, any public holidays, excluding Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, that fall mid-week may be moved to the beginning or end of the week to create a long weekend.
