The UAE has 12 or 13 days of public holidays in 2027, the same for the public and private sectors. They run from New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January to National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December. The Eid dates are expected, not final: Eid Al Fitr should start around 9 or 10 March and the Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha break around 15 to 18 May, depending on the moon.
On this page
- UAE public holidays 2027 at a glance
- The rules behind the UAE holiday calendar
- Long weekends in the UAE in 2027
- Leave planner: how to turn each holiday into a week off
- New Year holiday in the UAE
- Public holidays left in 2026
- How the 2026 holidays actually landed
- Dates that are not public holidays
- What each holiday means for outings
- All our holiday and season guides
- Change log
- UAE public holidays FAQs
UAE public holidays 2027 at a glance
| Holiday | Expected date in 2027 | Days | Date status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January | 1 | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 March, or to Friday 12 March | 3 or 4 | Moon sighting |
| Arafah Day | Saturday 15 May | 1 | Moon sighting |
| Eid Al Adha | Sunday 16 May to Tuesday 18 May | 3 | Moon sighting |
| Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year) | Sunday 6 June, or Monday 7 June if the month starts a day later | 1 | Moon sighting |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Saturday 14 or Sunday 15 August | 1 | Moon sighting |
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December | 2 | Fixed |
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around Monday 8 February. The first working day of 2027 is Monday 4 January.
Last checked on 9 October 2026. The Cabinet has not yet published the official 2027 dates, so this table uses the holiday rules in Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and the expected Hijri calendar. We update it the day official dates are announced.
Why the Eid dates can move: Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, and each month starts when the new crescent is confirmed. That can shift an Eid by a day, and it decides whether Eid Al Fitr is a 3-day or a 4-day holiday.
The rules behind the UAE holiday calendar
- Same days for everyone. Since Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the public and private sectors get the same public holidays.
- Eid Al Fitr covers 1 to 3 Shawwal. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, the 30th day of Ramadan is also a holiday, which makes it 4 days.
- Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha cover 9 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah: 4 days in total.
- No day in lieu. If a public holiday falls on a weekend or on another holiday, it is not moved to another day for you.
- The Cabinet can move some holidays to the start or end of the week by a separate decision. It did this twice in 2026: Hijri New Year moved from Tuesday 16 June to Monday 15 June, and the Prophet’s Birthday from Tuesday 25 August to Friday 28 August. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are never moved; they stay on their Hijri dates.
- Who announces what. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announces the dates for federal government staff and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) for the private sector, usually a few weeks ahead for fixed holidays and once the Hijri month is confirmed for the Islamic ones. Local governments, such as Dubai’s, and schools issue their own notices, which can differ by a day.
The full official list is on the UAE Government portal.
Long weekends in the UAE in 2027
With the UAE weekend on Saturday and Sunday, three holidays in 2027 give a long weekend without taking any leave:
| Break | Days off in a row | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | 3 | Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January |
| Eid Al Fitr, if Ramadan has 30 days | 6 | Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 March |
| Eid Al Fitr, if Ramadan has 29 days | 3, then a working Friday | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | 4 | Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May |
| National Day | 4 | Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December |
Two 2027 holidays are expected to land on a weekend: Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet’s Birthday on Saturday 14 or Sunday 15 August. Some outlets predict both will be moved to a Monday for a three-day weekend. Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 says a holiday that falls on a weekend is not transferred, so do not book leave around a Monday holiday until it is announced. The exception is the calendar itself: if Muharram starts a day later than expected, Hijri New Year lands on Monday 7 June anyway.
Working a Friday? These plans assume a Saturday and Sunday weekend, the standard since 1 January 2022. Federal government staff finish at midday on Fridays, and Sharjah government staff have Friday off as well, so their long weekends start a day earlier.
Leave planner: how to turn each holiday into a week off
These are the best-value annual leave combinations for 2027, assuming a Saturday and Sunday weekend.
| Holiday | Take leave on | Leave days | Total days off |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year | Monday 28 to Thursday 31 December 2026 | 4 | 9 (Sat 26 December to Sun 3 January) |
| Eid Al Fitr (3-day version) | Monday 8 and Friday 12 March | 2 | 9 (Sat 6 to Sun 14 March) |
| Eid Al Fitr (4-day version) | Monday 8 March | 1 | 9 (Sat 6 to Sun 14 March) |
| Eid Al Adha | Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May | 3 | 9 (Sat 15 to Sun 23 May) |
| National Day | Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December | 3 | 9 (Sat 27 November to Sun 5 December) |
Eid Al Fitr is the standout: book Monday 8 March and, if Ramadan turns out to have 29 days, Friday 12 March as well, and you get nine days off for one or two days of leave. Book flights early, because everyone has the same idea.
New Year holiday in the UAE
New Year’s Day 2027 falls on a Friday, so most people get a three-day weekend from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January. New Year’s Eve itself, Thursday 31 December 2026, is a normal working day. For where to watch the midnight fireworks, see our New Year’s Eve fireworks guide.
Public holidays left in 2026
Only one public holiday remains in 2026: National Day on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. It gives two days off in the middle of the week, with a working Friday after it unless the Cabinet moves the break. Friday 4 December is the most valuable leave day left this year: take it and you are off for five days in a row, from Wednesday 2 to Sunday 6 December. Our National Day holiday 2026 guide covers the days off, leave options and what is open.
How the 2026 holidays actually landed
Expected dates and official dates are not always the same, which is why we track both. This is how 2026 played out for the private sector.
| Holiday | Official 2026 holiday | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January | Nothing, fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | From Thursday 19 March | Announced by MoHRE on 23 February; federal staff ran to Sunday 22 March |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May | Federal staff also had Monday 25 May off |
| Hijri New Year | Monday 15 June | Moved from Tuesday 16 June to make a long weekend |
| Prophet’s Birthday | Friday 28 August | Moved from Tuesday 25 August to make a long weekend |
| National Day | Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December | Fixed date; still to come |
Dates that are not public holidays
- Commemoration Day (30 November): the day the UAE honours its martyrs, first marked in 2015. It is observed with a minute’s silence and flags at half mast in the morning, but it is not a day off.
- Flag Day (3 November): flags are raised across the country at 11am. It is not a day off.
- Isra and Mi’raj: once a holiday, it was dropped from the official list when the public and private sector holidays were unified.
- Ramadan: not a holiday, though shorter working hours are usual.
- Emirati Women’s Day (28 August), Christmas, Diwali and Lunar New Year: widely celebrated, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but normal working days.
What each holiday means for outings
- Attractions get busy. Global Village, Miracle Garden, the beaches and Hatta fill up on every long weekend. Book timed tickets early and arrive at opening time.
- Opening hours change. Many attractions stay open later on public holidays. Global Village, for example, runs to 1am.
- Prices can rise. Some parks charge weekend or peak rates on public holidays, so check the price for the actual date.
- Ramadan changes the rhythm. Ramadan is expected to start around 8 February 2027. Daytime outings are quieter and many attractions shift their hours later into the evening.
All our holiday and season guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| National Day holiday 2026 | 2 and 3 December: days off, leave maths, what is open |
| National Day events and fireworks | Where to celebrate Eid Al Etihad across the emirates |
| Eid Al Fitr holiday 2027 | Expected dates, both scenarios, the 9-day break plan |
| Eid Al Adha holiday 2027 | Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha days off in May |
| UAE school holidays 2026-27 | Winter, spring and summer breaks and mid-term dates |
| Christmas markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Dates, entry and what each market is like |
| Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 | Dates, fireworks and drone shows |
| New Year’s Eve fireworks | Every UAE fireworks location and free viewing spots |
| UAE weather by month | The best month for every kind of outing |
Change log
- 12 October 2026: added how the 2026 holidays were announced and moved, the weekend rule for Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday in 2027, and dates that are not days off.
- 9 October 2026: page created with expected 2027 dates based on Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Official 2027 calendar not yet announced.
UAE public holidays FAQs
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?
The UAE has 12 public holiday days in 2027, or 13 if Ramadan lasts 30 days and Eid Al Fitr becomes a 4-day holiday.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
Eid Al Fitr is expected to start on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027. The holiday is expected to run from Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 March, or to Friday 12 March if Ramadan has 30 days.
Do private sector employees get the same holidays in the UAE?
Yes. Since Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the public and private sectors get the same official public holidays.
Is 1 January 2027 a holiday in the UAE?
Yes. New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January 2027 is a public holiday, which gives most people a three-day weekend.
What happens if a UAE public holiday falls on a weekend?
It is not moved to another day for you. The Cabinet can still move some holidays to the start or end of the week by decision, so watch for announcements.
Will Hijri New Year 2027 be moved to a Monday?
Not automatically. It is expected on Sunday 6 June, and under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 a holiday that falls on a weekend is not transferred. It only lands on Monday 7 June if Muharram starts a day later than expected or the Cabinet announces a change.
Is Commemoration Day a public holiday in the UAE?
No. Commemoration Day on 30 November honours the UAE’s martyrs and is marked with a minute’s silence, but it is not a day off. The National Day holiday is 2 and 3 December.
When is the next public holiday in the UAE?
National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. The next one after that is New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January 2027.
What is the longest break in the UAE in 2027?
Eid Al Fitr in March. If Ramadan has 30 days, the holiday runs from Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March, which makes six days off with the weekend.