I’m Scott J. Tanner, and after roaming from Dubai Creek to the Palm more times than I can count, I’ve learned how Dubai public holidays shape work schedules, transport, hotel demand, and everyday plans. This page covers the 2026 Dubai public holidays using the dates that were actually observed, with the remaining December holiday shown on its fixed official dates.
Rules To Know
- Eid holidays follow the Hijri calendar, with their Gregorian dates determined through the relevant lunar-calendar process.
- Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, holidays other than Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha may be moved to the beginning or end of the workweek by Cabinet decision.
- This is why the religious calendar date and the official day off were not always the same in 2026.
- Public and private-sector holiday periods can also differ, as happened around Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha in 2026.
How To Read The Dates
The table separates the calendar or religious date from the day that employees were actually given off. That distinction matters most for Hijri New Year and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday in 2026.
For future years, do not assume the Gregorian date shown on an Islamic calendar will automatically be the official leave date. Wait for the relevant UAE announcement before fixing work leave, flights, or hotel bookings.
Dubai Public Holiday List For 2026
Most of the 2026 holiday calendar has now passed, so these dates no longer need to be treated as forecasts. The table below separates the religious or calendar date from the official day off actually applied. The December holiday remains on fixed statutory dates.
| Holiday | Religious / Calendar Date | Official Day Off Observed | Days Off | 2026 Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, 1 Jan 2026 | Thu, 1 Jan 2026 | 1 day | Fixed Gregorian date. |
| Eid Al Fitr | Fri, 20 Mar to Sun, 22 Mar 2026 1–3 Shawwal 1447 AH | Thu, 19 Mar to Sun, 22 Mar 2026 | 4 days | Ramadan completed 30 days, so 30 Ramadan on 19 March was included before the three Eid days. |
| Arafah Day | Tue, 26 May 2026 9 Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH | Private sector: Tue, 26 May Federal government: holiday period began Mon, 25 May | Part of the Eid Al Adha break | The religious date itself fell on 26 May. |
| Eid Al Adha | Wed, 27 May to Fri, 29 May 2026 10–12 Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH | Private sector: Tue, 26 May to Fri, 29 May Federal government: Mon, 25 May to Fri, 29 May | 4 private-sector holiday days; 5 federal-government holiday days | The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed 27 May as the first day of Eid Al Adha. |
| Hijri New Year | Tue, 16 Jun 2026 1 Muharram 1448 AH | Mon, 15 Jun 2026 | 1 day | The official holiday was observed one day before the calendar date, creating a Monday holiday. |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Tue, 25 Aug 2026 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1448 AH | Fri, 28 Aug 2026 | 1 day | The official public holiday was moved to Friday, 28 August. |
| Eid Al Etihad / National Day | Wed, 2 Dec to Thu, 3 Dec 2026 | Wed, 2 Dec to Thu, 3 Dec 2026 | 2 days | Fixed dates; these remain ahead in the 2026 calendar. |
You may also see commemorative or religious dates on local calendars that are not separate public holidays. For work and travel planning, use the official UAE holiday announcement rather than assuming every listed observance creates a day off.
How Dubai Confirms Holiday Dates
Dubai’s holiday calendar combines fixed Gregorian dates with Hijri-based dates. The distinction became especially visible in 2026 because some religious calendar dates and official leave dates did not line up on the same Gregorian day.
Fixed Dates Vs Hijri Dates
- Fixed dates include New Year’s Day on 1 January and Eid Al Etihad on 2–3 December.
- Hijri-based holidays include Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
- The religious date and the official day off should be treated as separate pieces of information when a transfer decision applies.
The Transfer Rule For Some Holidays
Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 allows certain public holidays to be transferred to the beginning or end of the workweek by Cabinet decision. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are excluded from that transfer rule.
The 2026 calendar shows why that wording matters. 1 Muharram 1448 AH corresponded to Tuesday, 16 June, but the official Hijri New Year holiday was observed on Monday, 15 June. Likewise, 12 Rabi Al Awwal fell on Tuesday, 25 August, while the official Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday holiday was observed on Friday, 28 August.
What Happened Around Each Major Holiday
Public holidays affect more than office calendars. In Dubai, the biggest practical changes usually show up in government service hours, transport schedules, hotel demand, attraction bookings, and restaurant reservations.
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day fell on Thursday, 1 January 2026. Because the date is fixed every year, it was the simplest holiday to plan around. Visitors still needed to check individual attraction and transport schedules, especially after the busy New Year’s Eve period.
Eid Al Fitr
In 2026, Ramadan completed 30 days. Thursday, 19 March was therefore included as the 30th day of Ramadan before Eid began on Friday, 20 March. The resulting official holiday ran from 19 to 22 March, with normal work resuming on Monday, 23 March.
- The religious Eid dates were 20–22 March.
- The official holiday period started a day earlier on 19 March.
- This is a useful example of why an Eid holiday period can contain a day that falls immediately before 1 Shawwal.
Arafah Day And Eid Al Adha
The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed Tuesday, 26 May as Arafah Day and Wednesday, 27 May as the first day of Eid Al Adha. Private-sector employees received paid public holidays from 26 to 29 May.
Federal government employees had a longer official break running from Monday, 25 May through Friday, 29 May, with work resuming on Monday, 1 June. This is one of the places where a single “UAE holiday date” can hide a real difference between employment sectors.
Hijri New Year
The calendar date for 1 Muharram 1448 AH was Tuesday, 16 June 2026. The actual paid public holiday for federal government entities and private-sector establishments was Monday, 15 June, with work resuming on Tuesday.
Dubai RTA also applied its Hijri New Year service schedule on 15 June, including holiday operating hours and changes to customer service and parking arrangements.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
The religious calendar placed 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1448 AH on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. The official holiday was instead observed on Friday, 28 August for the federal government and private sector. Dubai Government entities also observed the holiday on 28 August, with regular working hours resuming on Monday, 31 August for standard schedules.
Eid Al Etihad
Eid Al Etihad, commonly referred to as the UAE National Day holiday, remains on its fixed dates of 2–3 December 2026. These dates fall on Wednesday and Thursday. Visitors planning that week should expect stronger demand for hotels, restaurants, and popular attractions.
Practical Planning Tips For Dubai 2026
For the holidays that have already passed, the dates above are useful for checking old bookings, work records, and travel schedules. For the remaining December holiday, focus on booking demand, opening times, and transport changes rather than waiting for a lunar-date confirmation.
What Usually Changes In The City
- Government services generally close or run reduced schedules on official holidays, so document-related errands are better handled on normal workdays.
- Malls and attractions may use special or extended hours. Check the venue directly rather than assuming its normal timetable applies.
- Transport continues to operate, but RTA may publish holiday-specific metro, tram, bus, marine transport, parking, and service-centre hours.
- Dining becomes more reservation-led during major breaks, especially around Eid and December holidays.
Ramadan Timing That Affected Eid Planning
During Ramadan 2026, private-sector working hours were reduced by two hours per day. The month then completed 30 days, which directly affected the final Eid Al Fitr holiday period by adding Thursday, 19 March before the three Eid days.
How The 2026 Breaks Fell
| Holiday Window | Official Pattern | Practical Effect | Planning Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year – Thu, 1 Jan | One fixed holiday day | Could connect with the weekend by taking Friday off where applicable | Fixed date made advance planning simple. |
| Eid Al Fitr – Thu, 19 Mar to Sun, 22 Mar | Four-day official break | Work resumed Monday, 23 March | Ramadan completed 30 days. |
| Arafah + Eid Al Adha | Private sector: Tue, 26–Fri, 29 May Federal government: Mon, 25–Fri, 29 May | Long break when combined with regular weekend days | Sector-specific dates mattered in 2026. |
| Hijri New Year – Mon, 15 Jun | One transferred holiday day | Created a three-day weekend for many Saturday–Sunday schedules | Calendar date was 16 June. |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – Fri, 28 Aug | One transferred holiday day | Connected directly with the standard weekend for many workers | Religious calendar date was 25 August. |
| Eid Al Etihad – Wed, 2 Dec to Thu, 3 Dec | Two fixed holiday days | Adding Friday as annual leave can connect the break to the weekend where applicable | These are the remaining fixed 2026 public holiday dates. |
Work And Pay Basics On Public Holidays
For private-sector employees, an official public holiday is normally a paid day off. If work requirements mean an employee has to work on an official holiday, UAE labour rules provide for either a substitute rest day or payment for the holiday work in line with the applicable labour-law provisions.
The exact effect can depend on your employment arrangement, weekly rest days, shift pattern, and whether a holiday falls inside another approved leave period. For a payroll or leave calculation, use the current MoHRE rules and your employment records rather than relying only on a general holiday calendar.
Sources
- United Arab Emirates Legislations – Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 Concerning Public Holidays in the State — Official legal basis for the UAE holiday list and the rule allowing certain non-Eid holidays to be transferred.
- UAE Government – Public Holidays — Official nationwide holiday categories, fixed dates, and Hijri-based holiday structure.
- Government of Dubai Media Office – Dubai Government Eid Al Fitr Holiday 2026 — Official Dubai Government holiday period from 19 to 22 March 2026.
- Emirates News Agency – UAE Council for Fatwa Confirms Dhul Hijjah Crescent — Official confirmation of Arafah Day and the first day of Eid Al Adha in May 2026.
- Federal Authority for Government Human Resources – 2026 Circulars and Holiday Announcements — Official federal notices covering Eid Al Fitr, Arafah and Eid Al Adha, and Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
- Dubai RTA – Service Timings During Hijri New Year 1448 Holiday — Official Dubai confirmation that the Hijri New Year public holiday was observed on 15 June 2026.
- Emirates News Agency – Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Holiday for Dubai Government — Official confirmation of the 28 August 2026 Dubai Government holiday.
- MoHRE – Worker Rights — Official private-sector information on paid leave and employee entitlements.