The UAE has announced the predicted public holidays for 2026, giving residents and visitors a clear idea of the days off they can plan for. According to the UAE public holiday law introduced in January 2025, the country will observe at least 12 official holidays in 2026, including a long six-day break in May. The holiday calendar includes dates that follow both the Gregorian calendar and the Islamic Hijri calendar.
Islamic holidays such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha rely on moon sightings to determine the exact start dates, meaning the dates may be confirmed only a few days before the celebrations begin. However, astronomers can predict the likely dates in advance, and these predictions are used to estimate the holiday schedule for the year.
For 2026, the expected dates include a three-day long weekend for Eid Al Fitr and a six-day long weekend for Eid Al Adha and Arafat Day, as Saturday and Sunday will also be included. Other holidays like the Islamic New Year and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday are expected to be moved to the beginning of the week to create long weekends, following the UAE public holiday law guidelines. The remaining holidays are expected to fall within the work week, helping break up the year with regular days off.
The UAE public holiday law also allows local authorities to add additional holidays if required, meaning the calendar may be updated later. It is also noted that if a public holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps with another holiday, it cannot be carried forward, but this is unlikely to affect the 2026 schedule based on current predictions.
Predicted UAE Public Holidays 2026 (Estimated Dates)
- New Year’s Day: Thursday January 1
- Eid Al Fitr: Friday March 20 to Sunday March 22
- Arafat Day: Tuesday May 26
- Eid Al Adha: Wednesday May 27 to Friday May 29
- Islamic New Year: Monday June 15 (expected to be observed on Tuesday June 16)
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH): Monday August 24 (expected to be observed on Tuesday August 25)
- National Day: Wednesday December 2 and Thursday December 3
Residents should keep an eye on official announcements, as the final dates for Islamic holidays will be confirmed based on moon sightings closer to the time.
