Public Holidays in UAE 2026 – Official Government Holiday Calendar
Introduction to UAE Public Holidays
Planning your year effectively requires knowing when you’ll have time off work. For residents and businesses operating in the United Arab Emirates, understanding the official public holidays in UAE 2026 is essential for vacation planning, project scheduling, and ensuring compliance with labor regulations. The UAE observes a mix of fixed secular holidays and Islamic holidays that shift annually based on the lunar calendar. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about the upcoming year’s official rest days.
Understanding Public Holidays in UAE 2026
What Are Public Holidays?
Public holidays are officially designated days when government offices, most businesses, and educational institutions close to commemorate significant national, cultural, or religious events. In the UAE, these holidays are mandated by federal law, and most employees are entitled to paid leave on these dates. Understanding these holidays helps you balance work commitments with personal time.
Importance for Employees and Businesses
For employees, public holidays represent guaranteed rest periods and opportunities for travel or family time. For businesses, these dates impact operational planning, project deadlines, customer service availability, and payroll processing. Companies must ensure compliance with UAE labor law regarding holiday pay and working arrangements during these periods.
Complete List of Public Holidays in UAE 2026
New Year’s Day
Date: January 1, 2026 (Thursday)
The UAE observes New Year’s Day as an official public holiday. As this falls on a Thursday in 2026, combined with the Friday-Saturday weekend, residents can enjoy an extended break to start the year.
Islamic Holidays
Eid Al-Fitr Approximate Dates: March 30 – April 2, 2026 (subject to moon sighting)
Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The UAE typically grants 3-4 days of public holiday for this celebration. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the crescent moon, which will be officially announced by the UAE authorities closer to the time.
Arafat Day and Eid Al-Adha Approximate Dates: June 6-9, 2026 (subject to moon sighting)
Arafat Day precedes Eid Al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. Together, these constitute approximately 4 days of public holidays. Like Eid Al-Fitr, exact dates depend on lunar observations and official government announcements.
Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) Approximate Date: June 27, 2026 (subject to moon sighting)
The Islamic New Year commemorates the Hijra, Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina. This is observed as a one-day public holiday across the UAE.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid) Approximate Date: September 5, 2026 (subject to moon sighting)
The Prophet’s Birthday is celebrated with a public holiday throughout the Emirates, honoring the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
National Day Celebrations
Commemoration Day Date: November 30, 2026 (Monday)
Formerly known as Martyrs’ Day, Commemoration Day honors the sacrifices of Emirati martyrs who gave their lives in service to the nation. This solemn occasion is marked with a public holiday.
UAE National Day Date: December 2, 2026 (Wednesday)
December 2nd celebrates the UAE’s formation in 1971 when the seven emirates unified. This is one of the most significant celebrations in the country, featuring festivities, fireworks, and national pride displays. The government typically grants an additional day off, creating an extended weekend.
How Islamic Holidays Are Determined
Lunar Calendar Variations
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, which is lunar-based and approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar calendar. This means Islamic holidays shift earlier each year when viewed on the Gregorian calendar. The dates provided above are estimates based on astronomical calculations.
Moon Sighting Announcements
The UAE follows the traditional method of moon sighting to confirm Islamic holidays. The UAE Moon Sighting Committee announces exact dates typically 1-2 days before the holiday begins. This is why businesses and individuals should stay flexible with final planning around these dates.
Employee Rights During Public Holidays
Paid Leave Entitlements
According to UAE labor law, all employees are entitled to paid leave on official public holidays. If a public holiday falls on an employee’s regular rest day, they should receive a compensatory day off or additional payment, depending on company policy and employment contract terms.
Overtime and Holiday Pay Regulations
If business operations require employees to work during public holidays, employers must provide either an alternative rest day or additional compensation. For hourly workers, this typically means 150% of regular pay, though specific arrangements should be outlined in employment contracts.
Impact on Business Operations
Planning Around Holiday Periods
Smart businesses plan their operations around public holidays in UAE 2026 well in advance. This includes scheduling project milestones before or after holiday periods, ensuring adequate staffing for essential services, communicating closure dates to clients and suppliers, and preparing automated responses for customer inquiries during closures.
Sector-Specific Considerations
Not all sectors close during public holidays. Essential services like healthcare, hospitality, aviation, and retail often continue operations with adjusted staffing. These industries must plan rotational schedules ensuring fair distribution of holiday work among employees while maintaining service quality.
Managing Public Holidays with HR Software
Automated Holiday Tracking
Modern HR systems automatically account for public holidays when calculating leave balances, scheduling shifts, and processing payroll. This automation eliminates manual errors and ensures employees receive correct compensation.
Compliance Management
Keeping track of changing Islamic holiday dates, managing compensatory time off, and ensuring labor law compliance becomes complex without proper systems. HR software maintains updated holiday calendars and flags potential compliance issues before they become problems.
Public vs. Private Sector Differences
While public holidays apply universally, implementation sometimes differs between sectors. Government entities strictly observe all public holidays with complete closures. Private sector businesses have more flexibility but must still comply with labor law regarding employee entitlements. Some companies offer additional discretionary days off around major holidays to boost employee morale.
How Decibel 360 Cloud Simplifies Holiday Management
Decibel 360 Cloud offers comprehensive HR solutions that streamline public holiday management for UAE businesses. Their platform automatically updates with official UAE public holiday announcements, calculates holiday pay accurately according to labor law requirements, manages compensatory time off for employees working on holidays, and generates reports showing holiday impact on workforce availability.
The system’s leave management module integrates seamlessly with the public holiday calendar, preventing scheduling conflicts and ensuring employees don’t accidentally request leave on days already designated as public holidays. This integration saves HR teams countless hours while ensuring complete compliance.
Tips for Planning Your Year Around UAE Holidays
Make the most of public holidays in UAE 2026 by booking flights early around popular travel periods like Eid holidays, planning major projects to conclude before extended holiday breaks, communicating with international clients about UAE holiday schedules, and combining public holidays with annual leave for extended vacations.
Consider that many residents travel during Eid periods, so if you prefer quieter experiences, staying local during these times offers unique opportunities to explore the UAE with fewer crowds.
Conclusion
Understanding public holidays in UAE 2026 empowers both individuals and organizations to plan effectively throughout the year. While fixed holidays like New Year’s Day and National Day provide certainty, the lunar-based Islamic holidays require flexibility and awareness of official announcements. By leveraging modern HR solutions like Decibel 360 Cloud, businesses can automate holiday management, ensure compliance, and focus on strategic operations rather than administrative complexities. Whether you’re an employee planning vacations or a business leader scheduling operations, keeping this holiday calendar at hand ensures you make the most of the year ahead.
FAQs
1. How many public holidays are there in UAE in 2026?
The UAE observes approximately 11-13 public holidays in 2026, including New Year’s Day, Eid Al-Fitr (3-4 days), Eid Al-Adha (4 days), Islamic New Year, Prophet’s Birthday, Commemoration Day, and National Day.
2. Are Islamic holiday dates confirmed for 2026?
Islamic holiday dates are approximate and subject to official moon sighting confirmation by UAE authorities, typically announced 1-2 days before the holiday begins.
3. Do private sector employees get paid for public holidays in UAE?
Yes, all employees in the UAE, regardless of sector, are entitled to paid leave on official public holidays according to UAE labor law.
4. What happens if I work on a public holiday in UAE?
If you work on a public holiday, you’re entitled to either a compensatory day off or additional pay (typically 150% of regular wages), depending on your employment contract and company policy.
5. Can employers refuse to give public holidays in UAE?
No, employers cannot deny public holidays. However, essential services may require employees to work on these days with proper compensation as mandated by labor law.