Major public holidays in United Arab Emirates are largely connected to important Islamic celebrations, particularly Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. These occasions bring some of the longest holiday breaks of the year for residents in Dubai and across the country.
According to the UAE public holiday framework, residents can expect at least 12 official days off throughout the year. A significant portion of these holidays are linked to the two major Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Unlike many other public holidays in the UAE that may be moved to create long weekends, the Eid celebrations are determined by the Islamic lunar calendar. Because of this, their exact dates depend on moon sightings, although approximate schedules can be predicted in advance.
Eid Al Fitr 2026 Holiday Dates
Eid al-Fitr celebrates the completion of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The name translates to “festival of breaking the fast” and marks the beginning of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Hijri calendar.
For 2026, Eid Al Fitr is expected to start on Thursday March 19. If confirmed, this would create a long four day break for many workers in the UAE.
Government employees are scheduled to have holidays from Thursday March 19 until Sunday March 22. Meanwhile private sector staff are expected to have Thursday March 19 to Saturday March 21 as official leave days. As Sunday is already a standard weekend day for most people, many residents will still enjoy a four day break.
The holiday schedule has been confirmed by both the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Eid Al Adha 2026 Holiday Dates
The second major Islamic celebration is Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the pilgrimage season to Mecca.
The holiday begins with Day of Arafah, followed by three additional days of Eid celebrations.
Current calendar predictions suggest that Arafat Day could fall on Tuesday May 26. If this timeline is confirmed, the Eid Al Adha holidays would continue through Wednesday May 27 Thursday May 28 and Friday May 29.
When combined with the weekend this would create a six day break for many residents across the UAE.
UAE National Day Eid Al Etihad 2026
Another important holiday is UAE National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad. The event commemorates the formation of the UAE federation in 1971.
Unlike the Eid festivals which follow the Islamic calendar, National Day is based on the Gregorian calendar and is celebrated every year on December 2 and December 3.
In 2026 these dates will fall on Wednesday and Thursday. While there is always a possibility that authorities could extend the break to create a longer weekend, it is more likely that the official holidays will remain limited to those two days.
Government authorities typically confirm final arrangements closer to the dates, so residents are advised to watch for official announcements later in the year.