Your Insider guide for planning leave, long weekends and getaways in the year ahead.
If you’re planning your annual leave strategically (and let’s be honest, who isn’t), the most important dates on Dubai’s 2026 calendar revolve around the Eid holidays.
Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are the longest and most significant public holidays of the year in the UAE, and while the country’s public holiday law allows some flexibility in shifting days off, that flexibility does not apply to the two Eids. In other words: when Eid falls, the time off is fixed, and often generous.
Because both holidays are based on the Islamic Hijri calendar and confirmed by moon sighting, the exact dates aren’t officially announced until closer to the time. That said, astronomical predictions give us a very strong indication of what to expect — and how many days off could be coming our way.
Long weekends in the city or away: learn more with our Eid Al Fitr guide.
Eid Al Fitr 2026: What to Expect
Eid Al Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. The name translates to “the feast of breaking the fast” and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Based on current predictions, Eid Al Fitr is expected to begin on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Depending on how long Ramadan lasts and how the moon is sighted, Dubai residents can expect either a three- or four-day long weekend, with the most likely scenarios resulting in a four-day break between Thursday March 19 and Monday March 23.
While the exact configuration will be confirmed closer to the date, it’s safe to say this will be one of the most popular periods for short trips and staycations.
The whole city joins together to celebrate the holy month as well as Eid.
Eid Al Adha 2026: The Big One
Eid Al Adha marks the conclusion of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and is traditionally the longest public holiday of the year.
The holiday begins with Arafat Day on Dhu Al Hijjah 9, followed by three days of Eid.
If predictions hold, Arafat Day will fall on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with Eid Al Adha continuing on Wednesday May 27, Thursday May 28 and Friday May 29.
When combined with the weekend, this would result in a six-day break, making Eid Al Adha 2026 the longest public holiday stretch of the year.
Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day) 2026
Also known as UAE National Day, Eid Al Etihad is one of the few holidays based on the Gregorian calendar.
In 2026, December 2 and 3 fall on a Wednesday and Thursday. While it’s technically possible an extra day could be added to create a long weekend, recent precedent suggests this is unlikely.
The most probable scenario is:
- Wednesday December 2 and Thursday December 3 as official public holidays
- Friday December 4 as a remote work day for the public sector
- Private sector returning to work on Friday
As always, official confirmation will come closer to the date.
Whether you’re booking flights early or saving leave days for maximum impact, these are the dates worth circling now.
