UAE Public Holidays in 2026 - Complete List

Knowing about the dates of UAE public holidays is a habit of many of us, as it helps us to plan our 2026 UAE holidays accordingly in advance.

So, we are here to help you with a complete list of public holidays in UAE throughout the year 2026.

Guessing how many UAE holidays in 2026 you are getting?

Well, you can enjoy 13 days of official holidays in 2025, starting with New Year’s Day on January 1 and concluding with the UAE National Day Holidays on December 2 and 3.

Have a look at each of them in detail below:

New Year’s Day:

In 2026, New Year’s Day fell on Thursday, January 1, & it’ll be a public holiday across the UAE for both the public and private sectors. Celebrate and start the new year with lots of fun moments with your loved ones.

Eid Al Fitr:

The first long public holiday of the year 2026 in UAE comes during the celebration of Eid Al Fitr. You can get 3 days off from March 20 to March 22 – Friday to Sunday (Islamic Months - Shawwal 1 to Shawwal 3).

If Ramadan ends with 30 days, then you will get one additional day, and the holiday dates will be from March 19 to March 22 – Thursday to Sunday (Islamic Months: Ramadan 30 to Shawwal 3).

Day of Arafat:

The Day of Arafat is one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar and falls on the 9th day of the month Dhu Al-Hijjah.

In 2026, it is expected to fall on Tuesday, May 26, and it’s also the start of another long weekend in UAE.

Eid Al Adha:

One of the two important Islamic holidays, Eid Al Adha, is being celebrated in the days coming after the Day of Arafat.

The story behind this celebration is connected to Prophet Ibrahim (AS) being ready to obey God’s order to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) and hence the day is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.

The expected dates for this year are May 27, 28, and 29 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively). With the weekend immediately following on Saturday and Sunday, residents can look forward to an extended holiday break.

Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year):

This day marks the start of Islamic New Year (Also known as Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year). It’s on the first day of Muharram (first month of Islamic year), which is expected to fall on Tuesday, June 16, in 2026.

Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday:

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born on the 12th of Rabiʽ al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic Calendar. Every year it’s a public holiday in UAE to mark the Prophet’s Birthday (a.k.a. Eid Milad un Nabi).

The expected date for this national holiday in 2026 is August 25, Tuesday.

Commemoration Day:

Commemoration Day (formerly Martyrs’ Day) is one of the notable public holidays in UAE as it is there for remembering and recognizing the dedication and sacrifices made by the Emirati Martyrs from the military, civil, and humanitarian fields who have given their life for the services of the nation. This year, it falls on Monday, November 30.

UAE National Day:

The National Day holidays follow on from the Commemoration Day as the country celebrates its National Day on December 2 & 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday respectively). It means another long weekend to conclude the public holidays for the year 2026.

NB: Some of the above dates can be changed based on the moon sightings in UAE. So, take that fact into consideration when you make holiday plans.

UAE Public Holidays List - 2025