Multicultural ambience, deep-rooted heritage, and inclusive values are some of the reasons the UAE is admired. Some of the most looked-forward-to features about living in the UAE – or visiting it – involve the public holidays in UAE, especially the ones relating to Islamic tradition. These public holidays are not just cultural markers, but significant events that tend to affect business planning and workforce management.
From the HR perspective, preparation in advance considering Public Holidays in UAE 2026 is hugely necessary. HR leaders have to align company policies of leaves with official UAE announcements regarding national day holiday, religious holidays, and other emirates public holidays. In this way, one can plan in advance for the smooth running of businesses, full compliance, and maximum satisfaction of employees.
Furthermore, being in the know about UAE upcoming holiday helps employees and employers alike to plan vacations, scheduling, staffing, and payroll without any glitches. As we go into details on عطلة رسمية and UAE national holiday planning, always refer to our 2026 holiday overview.
List of Public Holidays in UAE 2026
Below is a projected schedule of United Arab Emirates public holidays 2026 based on the lunar Hijri calendar and recurring fixed public holidays in UAE. As per UAE labor law, the dates of Islamic coming holiday in UAE are subject to change depending on moon sightings.
Date | Day | Holiday |
1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
20–22 March 2026 | Friday- Sunday | Eid Al Fitr |
26 May 2026 | Tuesday | Arafat Day |
27–29 May 2026 | Wednesday–Friday | Eid Al Adha |
16 June 2026 | Tuesday | Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) |
25 August 2026 | Tuesday | Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday |
30 November 2026 | Monday | UAE Commemoration Day |
2 December 2026 | Wednesday | UAE National Day |
*Disclaimer*
These dates are projected based on the Islamic calendar structure. Once final confirmation is issued by UAE MOHRE, the HR teams should update the calendars, leave structures, and employee communications accordingly.
A Closer Look at Public Holidays in UAE 2026
Below given is the detailed descriptions of the UAE public holidays-
• New Year’s Day (1 January 2026)
Like each year, New Year’s Day is a public holiday in UAE, for both the public and private sectors. Celebrations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates fill the night skies with unforgettable fireworks — especially near Burj Khalifa.
This day is also considered the first public holiday in UAE, giving companies a fresh start for annual planning and team goal setting. Many residents also use the time during the UAE holiday to rest, travel locally, or enjoy winter events in Dubai and other emirates.
• Eid Al Fitr UAE Holiday (20–22 March 2026, )
Eid Al Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan as one of the public holidays in UAE. Families visit one another, share meals, attend Eid prayers, and exchange gifts. This is one of the biggest holidays in the UAE, offering a well-earned break for working professionals.
As Ramadan comes to an end, HR departments should be prepared for requests for leave, ensuring payroll, scheduling, and approvals with employee self service are kept smooth via platforms. This Eid Al Fitr UAE holiday also sees much travel activity, both within and outside the country, as people maximize this extended break.
• Arafat Day (26 May 2026)
Arafat Day is observed one day before Eid Al Adha UAE holiday and holds great spiritual significance. It is connected to the pilgrimage of Hajj and finds representation as a public holiday in UAE.
People observe prayers and reflections, acknowledging the deep religious meaning of this day. This Arafat Day holiday is usually followed by extended employee leave and forms part of one of the longest UAE holiday periods of the year.
• Eid Al Adha UAE Holiday (27–29 May 2026)
It is also referred to as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” and is one of the two majors Islamic عطلة رسمية holidays. Traditionally, Muslims perform animal sacrifice and distribute portions on these public holidays in UAE to family and those less fortunate.
Most employees extend their leave to travel, so organization should plan in advance for this UAE upcoming holiday. This Eid Al Adha UAE holiday is also popular for tourism, family gatherings, and community feasting across Emirates.
• Islamic New Year Holiday in UAE (16 June 2026)
The new Hijri year, 1448 AH, is marked by a reflective and solemn holiday rather than a celebratory one. This is a fully recognized Islamic New Year holiday in UAE and applies to private sector employees as well.
This Dubai holidays public day offers a moment of contemplation and spiritual renewal. Companies often experience a short operational pause as all employees observe this public holiday in UAE in a quiet and respectful manner.
• Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (25 August 2026)
Observed on the 12th of Rabi-Al-Awwal, this is a peaceful religious observance where people reflect on the Prophet’s life and teachings. This is an officially recognized UAE national holiday.
On this day, municipalities often organize cultural and religious programs. As it is a public holiday in UAE, organizations might adjust meeting and deadline scheduling around this observance.
• UAE Commemoration Day (30 November 2026)
It is a solemn day to remember all the Emirati heroes who gave their lives for the nation. This is a significant national holiday UAE in which all sectors of the federal government to private sectors participate. These include flag-raising events, public memorials, and national broadcasts. This day is different from all other UAE holidays because this holiday is patriotic, with a reflective vibe, which creates respect for the nation’s history.
• UAE National Day (2 December 2026)
Perhaps the most festive occasion on the calendar marks the unification of the Emirates in 1971. The nation celebrates fireworks, cultural performances, traditional shows, and concerts. Everything on this UAE holidays national day is decorated and lit up, from the beautiful fireworks shows to parades, cultural performances, traditional Emirati shows, and musical concerts. Families, residents, and tourists all converge to celebrate this one day of national pride, making it the most awaited and joyful public holiday in the UAE every year.
This Dubai holidays national day is widely searched under many variations including: UAE National Day Public Holiday, National Day holiday UAE, Abu Dhabi national day holiday, National day holiday Dubai and UAE National Day holiday – private sector.
It is a Dubai official holiday day when the entire country unites together with patriotism and joy.
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Why Knowledge of Public Holidays in UAE Advance Matters
With this calendar, Next public holidays in UAE 2026, organizations can view:
- Sustain consistent productivity Minimize resource disruption
- Plan staffing schedules appropriately
- Reduce last-minute absenteeism
- Enhance employee experience
Similarly, employees can plan their vacations, trips, or personal commitments efficiently with every next holiday in UAE.
Managing Leave Requests the Smart Way
Public holidays often lead to a flood of leave applications. Instead of using spreadsheets or email threads to manually process the approval, human resources teams are able to use Zimyo for:
- Develop flexible leave policies
- Absence patterns should be monitored.
- Attendance management automation
- Generate accurate payroll reports
HR teams maintain clarity, consistency, and compliance across all Emirates public holidays with HR software.
Conclusion
Public holidays in UAE are not only days off, but they epitomize religious values, historic events, and cultural heritage. Whether you are an expatriate, a resident of the UAE, or an HR professional, awareness of UAE public holidays 2026 will go a long way to help plan your schedule, arrange your responsibilities, and make optimum utilization of the year.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
There are about 12–14 public holidays in UAE , due to moon sighting for Islamic events such as Eid and Hijri New Year.
As per the tentative date Eid AL Adha is expected between 27–29 May 2026. in UAE.
Expected around 20 –22 March 2026 for the Eid-al-Fitr in 2026 for this public holiday in UAE.
Normally 2 days — 2–3 December — but can be extended at times by Cabinet announcements for Dubai national holidays.
Every year, the UAE celebrates National Day on 2 December to mark the official unification of the country and the beginning of the federation in 1971. “Spirit of the Union” is the official theme of such celebrations.
