For those building a career in the Emirates, public holidays are like the ultimate reward for the hard work put into the nation’s growth. The official UAE public holidays 2026 provide a structured way for the community to honor its Islamic roots and celebrate its journey as a unified nation on December 2nd.
Understanding how these dates fall, and how the UAE Cabinet aligns them for all workers, is the first step in balancing a demanding professional life with the rich cultural experiences the country offers.
January
- New Year’s Day (Gregorian New Year) – January 1, 2026 (Thursday).
It celebrates the start of the calendar year. Confirmed (fixed date).
February
There are no official public holidays in February 2026.
March
- Eid al-Fitr (Festival of Breaking the Fast) – Predicted March 20–22, 2026 (Friday–Sunday) (3 days).
It marks the end of Ramadan. Tentative (lunar-date dependent).
April
- No official public holidays in April 2026.
May
- Arafat Day (Hajj Day) – Predicted May 26, 2026 (Tuesday).
It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage, observed with prayer and reflection on Mount Arafat. Tentative.
- Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) – Predicted May 27–29, 2026 (Wednesday–Friday) (3 days).
It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of faith. Tentative.
June
- Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1448 AH) – Predicted June 16, 2026 (Tuesday).
It marks the beginning of the new Islamic lunar year. Tentative (likely observed on Monday, June 15, for a long weekend).
July
There are no official public holidays in July 2026.
August
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi, 12 Rabiʽ al-Awwal 1448 AH) – Predicted August 25, 2026 (Tuesday).
It celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Tentative (likely observed on Monday, August 24 to create a long weekend).
September
There are no official public holidays in September 2026.
October
There are no official public holidays in October 2026.
November
There are no official public holidays in November 2026.
December
- Commemoration Day (Martyrs’ Day) – December 1, 2026 (Wednesday).
It honors UAE martyrs who fell in service to the country. Confirmed (fixed date).
- UAE National Day – December 2–3, 2026 (Wednesday–Thursday) (2 days)
It celebrates the UAE’s founding and the union of the emirates. Confirmed (fixed dates).
NOTE: Since Muslims follow the Hijri (Lunar) Calendar, the religious holidays can shift based on moon sighting in the UAE.
IMPORTANT –
As per Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, in effect since 1st Jan. 2025:
The Cabinet can now legally transfer a public holiday that falls mid-week to either the beginning or the end of the week (usually moving a Tuesday/Wednesday holiday to a Monday or Friday). This creates log weekends so the UAE residents can continue to enjoy a 3-day or 4-day break rather than a single day off in isolation.
But this flexibility does not apply to any of the Eid. Since Eid (all) are the major religious observance, it remains fixed on their officially sighted dates. You won’t see an Eid holiday “shifted” just to make a weekend longer.