Last updated: 16 October 2026. Next check: mid-November 2026, when any National Day transfer would be announced.
The UAE sets its public holidays by rule. The UAE government public holidays page (last updated 2 July 2026) lists them under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. New Year’s Day (1 January) and National Day (2 and 3 December) are fixed dates. The Islamic holidays follow moon sighting, so their dates are expected until confirmed. The same page says a holiday cannot be transferred to another day when it coincides with another public holiday or falls on a weekend.
Rest of 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day | Days off | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 and 3 December 2026 | Wednesday and Thursday | 2 | Fixed by rule. We found no announced transfer as of 16 October 2026 |
| Prophet’s Birthday (already held) | 28 August 2026 | Friday | 1 | Announced by the UAE Government Media Office, as reported by Gulf News |
2027 (expected, not yet officially announced)
We found no Cabinet or government announcement of the 2027 dates as of 16 October 2026. The dates below follow the rules on the UAE government page and the expected Islamic dates reported by Gulf News (updated 10 September 2026). Weekdays are our own calculation.
| Holiday | Expected date | Day | Days off | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2027 | Friday | 1 | Fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | 9 to 11 March 2027 (12 March if Ramadan has 30 days) | Tuesday to Thursday (or Friday) | 3, or 4 if Ramadan has 30 days | Expected, moon sighting |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | 15 to 18 May 2027 | Saturday to Tuesday | 1 plus 3 | Expected, moon sighting |
| Hijri New Year | 6 June 2027 | Sunday | 1 | Expected, moon sighting |
| Prophet’s Birthday | 14 August 2027 | Saturday | 1 | Expected, moon sighting |
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 and 3 December 2027 | Thursday and Friday | 2 | Fixed by rule |
For the Islamic holidays, the UAE government page gives these lengths: Eid Al Fitr runs from 1 to 3 Shawwal and Eid Al Adha from 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah, with Arafah Day on 9 Dhu Al Hijjah. It adds that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, day 30 is also an Eid Al Fitr holiday.
What to check
- Whether the Cabinet moves National Day 2026 to a Friday (no move announced yet)
- Moon-sighting announcements, usually made shortly before each Islamic holiday
- The UAE government public holidays page for any change to the rules
- Our long weekends guide for break planning