All the predicted UAE public holidays for 2026 (including that dreamy six-day weekend).
By your long-weekend-enablers at The Insider Magazine.
Let’s be honest—if there’s one thing we love more than a cheeky brunch or a midweek staycation, it’s plotting out our public holidays like a tactical genius. And while we technically don’t have the official 2026 public holiday announcement just yet, the UAE public holiday law gives us a pretty solid sneak peek of the year’s best “out of office” moments.
Spoiler alert: we’re looking at 12 days off—including a six-day mega-break that’s practically screaming “pack your bags!”
Wait, how are these dates decided?
The UAE celebrates a blend of holidays, with some locked into the Gregorian calendar (hello, New Year and National Day), while others follow the Islamic Hijri calendar—which means moon sightings play a major role. So while exact dates for Eid and other Islamic holidays can’t be confirmed until closer to the time, astronomers are pretty nifty at giving us ballpark predictions. And we are absolutely here for it.
Predicted UAE Public Holidays for 2026
Here’s your future “Out of Office” goldmine based on the UAE public holiday law introduced in 2025:
- Thursday, Jan 1 – New Year’s Day (long weekend alert!)
- March 20–22 – Eid Al Fitr (Friday to Sunday = 3-day weekend!)
- May 26 – Arafat Day (Tuesday)
- May 27–29 – Eid Al Adha (Wednesday to Friday)
- Add in Saturday and Sunday and voila! A 6-day escape awaits.
- June 16 – Islamic New Year (Tuesday)
- August 25 – Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) (Tuesday)
- December 1–2 – UAE National Day (Tuesday + Wednesday = midweek magic)
And guess what? None of these are expected to land on a weekend, so no heartbreak over “lost” days off.
Bonus Holiday Intel
- If holidays do fall on a weekend (not the case in 2026—woohoo!), the UAE Cabinet might move them to a weekday. So don’t despair if plans get a little lunar.
- Local governments also have the power to sprinkle in extra public holidays as they see fit.
So whether you’re planning a blowout trip to Bali, a mountain escape in Ras Al Khaimah, or just a Netflix-and-nap marathon from your couch—2026 is shaping up to be a very generous year for holiday lovers.
Ready, set, calendar block.
