The UAE's holiday calendar presents unique challenges for international teams. With Islamic holidays that shift annually based on lunar observation, a Friday-Saturday weekend (different from most Western countries), and distinct rules for public vs private sector employees, managing UAE holidays manually is a recipe for scheduling chaos.
This guide covers every UAE public holiday in 2026, explains the Islamic calendar system, and shows how to keep your team's calendar automatically accurate.
UAE Public Holidays in 2026
New Year's Day is January 1. Eid Al Fitr (end of Ramadan) is expected around March 30 to April 2, typically a 3-4 day holiday. Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) are expected around June 6-9. Islamic New Year (Al Hijra) is expected around June 27. Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi) is expected around September 5. Commemoration Day is November 30. UAE National Day is December 2-3 (two days).
Important: Islamic holiday dates are approximate and confirmed by the UAE's Moon Sighting Committee, often only days before the holiday. This makes automated calendar systems essential for keeping your team's schedule accurate.
The UAE Weekend: Friday-Saturday
Since January 2022, the UAE shifted from a Friday-Saturday weekend to a Saturday-Sunday weekend for the public sector, while many private sector companies followed suit. However, some private sector businesses still observe Friday-Saturday as their weekend. When planning meetings with UAE colleagues, always confirm which weekend schedule their company follows. The standard work week for most government entities is now Monday to Friday, with a half-day on Friday.
Ramadan: The Month That Changes Everything
Ramadan is not a public holiday, but it profoundly affects work schedules in the UAE. During Ramadan (expected February 28 to March 30, 2026), working hours are reduced by two hours per day by law. Most offices operate from 9 AM to 2 PM. Business meetings should be scheduled in the morning, and productivity patterns shift significantly. Plan any UAE-dependent deadlines accordingly.
Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha: Extended Holidays
The two Eid holidays are the longest breaks in the UAE calendar. Eid Al Fitr (end of Ramadan) typically provides 3-4 days off, and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) offers 3-4 days as well. In practice, many employees take additional leave around these periods, creating week-long or longer absences. Combined with weekends, these Eid periods can mean a full week or more of reduced availability.
UAE National Day: The Biggest National Celebration
Commemoration Day (November 30) and National Day (December 2-3) create a multi-day holiday cluster at the end of the year. Combined with the December 1 bridge day that many take off, this effectively creates a 4-5 day break. This coincides with year-end activities at many companies, so plan your Q4 timelines accordingly.
Automate UAE Holiday Calendar Management
Autolidays automatically blocks all UAE public holidays in your team's Google Calendar and updates Islamic holiday dates as soon as they are officially confirmed by the Moon Sighting Committee. No more guessing, no more manual calendar updates, no more scheduling meetings during Eid.
Browse all UAE holidays on our holidays page and automate your MENA team's calendar today.