UAE public holidays number seven on the official list, and only one is left in 2026: National Day on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. Every 2027 date below is a prediction, because we found no official 2027 calendar.
On 22 October 2026 we read the UAE government’s public holidays page, which shows an update date of 2 July 2026, and Khaleej Times’ 2027 forecast. Two other reports refused our requests. This is general information, not an official notice.
| Holiday | Official rule | Expected in 2027 (Khaleej Times) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Friday 1 January |
| Eid Al Fitr | 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus the 30th of Ramadan if it has 30 days | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March, or to Friday 12 March |
| Arafah Day | 9 Dhul Hijjah | Saturday 15 May |
| Eid Al Adha | 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah | Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 May |
| Hijri New Year | 1 Muharram | Sunday 6 June |
| Prophet’s birthday | 12 Rabi’ Awwal | Saturday 14 August |
| National Day | 2 and 3 December | Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December |
UAE public holidays: the official list
Seven holidays appear on the government portal, which says they apply to both the public and private sectors. The Islamic ones are set by moon sighting, so their exact days are confirmed only shortly beforehand.
For Eid Al Fitr the portal counts four days when Ramadan has 30 days, because the 30th day of Ramadan is then also an official holiday. National Day is fixed on 2 and 3 December.
What is left of 2026
National Day is the last public holiday of the year, and it falls on a Wednesday and a Thursday in 2026. Khaleej Times noted that if the Cabinet formally moved it, the break could become a four-day weekend.
We found no such decision. In 2025 the federal government did move the break, to Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December, announced on 17 November, as our UAE National Day 2026 guide sets out. Check the announcement in late November before you plan travel around a four-day break.
Expected dates for 2027
Khaleej Times published its forecast on 11 August 2026 and updated it on 30 August. It said Ramadan was expected to start on Monday 8 February 2027 by astronomical calculation, and it did not name an astronomer.
Khaleej Times pointed to several long breaks, all of which depend on taking leave and on moon sightings.
- New Year: a three-day weekend from Friday 1 January to Sunday 3 January.
- Eid Al Fitr: up to a six-day break if Ramadan has 29 days, or nine days with leave if it has 30.
- Eid Al Adha: a nine-day break from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May if 19 to 21 May are taken as leave.
- National Day: a four-day weekend from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December.
- Hijri New Year falls on a Sunday and the Prophet’s birthday on a Saturday, so neither extends a weekend.
Can a holiday be moved
Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, cited on the government portal, says a public holiday cannot be moved to another day when it coincides with another holiday or falls on a weekend.
Khaleej Times says a rule in force since early 2025 lets some holidays be moved to the start or end of the week with an official Cabinet decision, naming New Year’s Day, Hijri New Year, the Prophet’s birthday and National Day. It lists both Eids as not movable. The two statements cover different cases, and neither source reconciles them.
For comparison with the neighbours, our Saudi National Day guide covers a different calendar.
Where the sources disagree
Three points differ between the sources, so check which one is describing a rule and which one is describing a forecast.
- 2027 status: some headlines call the 2027 list announced, while Khaleej Times calls its dates predicted and dependent on moon sighting. The government page lists rules only.
- Eid Al Fitr length: the portal counts four days with the 30th-day rule, while Khaleej Times counts three days, or four if Ramadan has 30 days.
- Moving holidays: the portal’s Article 3 wording and Khaleej Times’ account of transfers are not reconciled.
What we could not confirm
Several points stay open after our reading, because no 2027 calendar was found and two reports could not be opened.
- An official announcement of the 2027 holiday calendar.
- Whether the National Day 2026 holiday will be moved to create a four-day weekend.
- Private-sector working arrangements around the holidays.
- Bank holidays, which we did not research.
Quick answers on UAE public holidays
How many public holidays does the UAE have?
Seven named holidays, according to the government portal: New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet’s birthday and National Day.
When is the next UAE public holiday?
National Day, on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. No other public holiday remains this year.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
Khaleej Times expects Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March 2027, or to Friday 12 March if Ramadan has 30 days. The dates depend on the moon sighting.
Do private companies get the same public holidays?
Yes. The government portal says the list applies to both the public and private sectors.
We read these pages on 22 October 2026 and will update the table when the 2027 calendar is announced.
