UAE Public Holidays 2026–2027 (Private Sector)
Based on Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on public holidays, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (Article 28) and Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Article 15). Last reviewed: 2026-09-23.
The Year
Public Holidays 2026
| Holiday | Dates | Days | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
New Year’s DayOfficial source
| Thu, 1 Jan | 1 day | Announced |
Eid Al FitrMOHRE announced 19–21 March and added 22 March if Ramadan completed 30 days. The Presidential Court announced that Thursday 19 March completed Ramadan, so the holiday ran 19–22 March.Official source
| Thu, 19 Mar – Sun, 22 Mar | 4 days | Announced |
Arafat Day and Eid Al AdhaMOHRE announced the four days as one holiday for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha.Official source
| Tue, 26 May – Fri, 29 May | 4 days | Announced |
Hijri New YearOn the calendar: Tuesday 16 June 2026. No private-sector announcement found.1 Muharram 1448 fell on 16 June 2026 (Dubai IACAD calendar). We found no MOHRE announcement of the private-sector day off, so no date is shown.Official source
| — | — | Not confirmed |
Prophet Muhammad’s BirthdayOn the calendar: Tuesday 25 August 2026. No private-sector announcement found.12 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 fell on 25 August 2026 (Dubai IACAD calendar). The federal government observed the holiday on Friday 28 August (FAHR Circular No. 11 of 2026); we found no MOHRE announcement for the private sector.Official source
| — | — | Not confirmed |
National Day (Eid Al Etihad)The date fixed in Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. The Cabinet may move this holiday to the start or end of the week (Article 2), so wait for MOHRE’s announcement.In 2025 MOHRE announced National Day for Monday and Tuesday, 1 and 2 December.Official source
| Wed, 2 Dec – Thu, 3 Dec | 2 days | Expected |
Add to Your Calendar
Download the 2026 holidays as an .ics file for Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar. It is built in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
5 events, Ramadan included
Only dated holidays are exported. Expected dates say “expected” in the event title. After MOHRE’s announcement, download the file again: every event keeps a stable ID, so apps that honour event IDs treat it as the same event; otherwise delete the old one first.
Ramadan 2026 and Working Hours
Ramadan 2026: Wednesday 18 February 2026 to Thursday 19 March 2026 (announced).
Official source
“Accordingly, Wednesday, 18th February 2026, will be the first day of the holy month in the country.”
WAM, Presidential Court, 17 February 2026“Dessa forma, a quinta-feira (19/03) completa o Ramadã, e a sexta-feira (20/03) será o primeiro dia do Eid Al Fitr no país.”
WAM (Portuguese service), Presidential Court, 18 March 2026
- Normal working hours are cut by two hours a day during Ramadan (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Article 15(2)). Normal hours are at most 8 a day (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 17(1)), so a full 8-hour day becomes 6 hours.
- MOHRE’s 2026 notice lets private-sector employers use flexible or remote work within the reduced daily hours.
- The government portal u.ae says the reduction applies to Muslim and non-Muslim employees, without a deduction from regular wages.
Official source
“The normal working hours shall be reduced by two hours during the holy month of Ramadan.”
Cabinet Resolution No. (1) of 2022, Art. 15(2)“Private sector companies may implement flexible working arrangements or remote work within the limits of the daily working hours set for the days of Ramadan, in line with their business interests and the nature of their work.”
MOHRE, 12 February 2026“According to UAE labor law, working hours are reduced by two hours per day. This decision applies to Muslim and non-Muslim employees, without deducting regular wages.”
u.ae — Ramadan
The Rule: Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024
One list applies to the government and the private sector alike. Private-sector workers get these days off on full pay (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 28(1)).
- New Year’s Day — 1 January · 1 day
- Eid Al Fitr — 1–3 Shawwal · 3 days
- Arafat Day — 9 Dhu al-Hijjah · 1 day
- Eid Al Adha — 10–12 Dhu al-Hijjah · 3 days
- Hijri New Year — 1 Muharram · 1 day
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday — 12 Rabi al-Awwal · 1 day
- National Day (Eid Al Etihad) — 2–3 December · 2 days
If Ramadan completes 30 days, 30 Ramadan is added to the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
Except for the two Eids, the Cabinet may move a holiday to the start or end of the week (Article 2); a holiday that falls on another holiday or on the weekend is not moved to another day (Article 3).
Commemoration Day (30 November) was on the 2019 list; the 2024 resolution repealed that list and does not include it.
Working on a Public Holiday
If work requires it, the employer either gives another day off for each holiday worked, or pays that day’s normal wage plus at least 50% of the basic wage for the day (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, Article 28(2)).
Legal basis
- Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 Concerning the Public Holidays in the State — Arts. 1, 2, 3
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations — Arts. 17, 28
- Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022 (Implementing Regulation of the Labour Law) — Art. 15
Last reviewed: 2026-09-23
* General information, not legal advice. Dates marked “expected” are not announced yet: Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting and on the official announcement, and the Cabinet may move non-Eid holidays to the start or end of the week. Last reviewed: 2026-09-23. The employment contract, the law that actually applies (the DIFC and ADGM free zones have their own employment laws) and any decision or announcement of MOHRE, ICP or a court prevail over this guide — verify with the relevant authority before you rely on a date.