Public Holidays in United Arab Emirates in 2026
Complete list of official public holidays and observances
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Official Public Holidays
12 holidays in United Arab Emirates for 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day | Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|
|
New Year's Day
New Year’s Day is the first day of the year, or January 1, in the Gregorian calendar.
|
January 01 | Thursday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fa...
|
March 20 | Friday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Eid al-Fitr Holiday is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
March 21 | Saturday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Eid al-Fitr Holiday is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
March 22 | Sunday | Nationwide |
|
Arafat (Hajj) Day
Arafat (Hajj) Day is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
May 26 | Tuesday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
Eid al-Adha (Id ul-Adha) is an Islamic festival falling on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijj...
|
May 27 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Eid al-Adha Holiday is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
May 27 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Eid al-Adha Holiday is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
May 28 | Thursday | Nationwide |
|
Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and a time of remembrance or mourning.
|
June 17 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
Mouloud
Mawlid, or Milad, marks the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammed, or Mohamed, in the year 570 of...
|
August 26 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
National Day
National Day is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
December 02 | Wednesday | Nationwide |
|
National Day Holiday
National Day Holiday is a national holiday in United Arab Emirates
|
December 03 | Thursday | Nationwide |
Legal Notice: This information is for guidance only and should not be considered legal advice. Always validate with local authorities or legal practitioners in United Arab Emirates.
Why HR Teams Choose Leavetrack
Everything you need for seamless leave management
-
Automatic Public Holiday Import
- All public holidays for United Arab Emirates and 180+ other countries automatically loaded. No manual data entry required.
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Save 5+ Hours Per Week
- Eliminate manual leave calculations and reduce administrative overhead by up to 80%.
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Compliance Made Easy
- Built-in compliance tracking ensures you meet local employment laws and holiday entitlements.
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Team Visibility
- Everyone sees who's off when, preventing scheduling conflicts and ensuring adequate coverage.
Trusted by HR teams worldwide
"With a team of over 50 employees, keeping track of absences and holidays using a paper based system used to be time consuming and prone to errors. Since introducing Leavetrack, the whole process has become a lot simpler and easier."
How It Works
Simple, powerful leave management in four steps
Employees Request Leave
Simple, intuitive interface lets employees request time off in seconds. Public holidays are automatically excluded from calculations.
- Book leave in under 30 seconds
- See available leave balance instantly
- Mobile-friendly for on-the-go requests
Managers Approve Instantly
Managers see all request details including conflicts with public holidays and other team members' leave.
- Approve/reject directly from email
- See team coverage at a glance
- Complete audit trail of decisions
Plan Team Coverage
Beautiful visual calendar shows exactly who's off when, including public holidays, so you can plan optimal team coverage.
- Color-coded wall chart
- Filter by department or team
- Spot conflicts before they happen
Generate Reports
Comprehensive reporting gives you insights into leave patterns, costs, and compliance - all exportable to Excel.
- Full audit trail of all leave
- Export to CSV for further analysis
- Track entitlements and accruals
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About Public Holidays in United Arab Emirates
Public holidays in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are a blend of Islamic traditions and national celebrations, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage. The UAE observes several public holidays throughout the year, including Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the UAE National Day, which falls on December 2nd. These holidays are significant for both employees and employers, as they provide opportunities for staff leave and family gatherings. Understanding the public holiday calendar is essential for effective absence management and staff leave planning within businesses operating in the UAE. For more detailed information on public holidays in the UAE, you can visit the official government website at UAE Government Public Holidays.