Public Holidays in the UAE 2026: Complete Guide for UK Travellers

Also on Bank Holidays UK: UK Long Weekends 2026 — Bank Holiday Planner · Public Holidays in Ireland 2026: Complete Guide for UK Travellers · Bank Holiday December 2026 — Christmas & Boxing Day

The United Arab Emirates is one of the fastest-growing long-haul destinations for UK travellers, whether you are stopping over in Dubai en route to Asia, soaking up the winter sun in Abu Dhabi, or visiting family during the school holidays. Knowing the public holidays in the UAE for 2026 matters more than you might expect: the country runs on the Islamic Hijri calendar for most of its days off, so the dates shift each year and are only confirmed a few days in advance by official moon sighting. This complete guide sets out every UAE public holiday in 2026, explains what stays open and what closes, and shows how the Emirates’ bank holiday system compares with the UK’s.

Public Holidays in the UAE 2026 — Full List

The UAE observes a blend of fixed Gregorian dates and moveable Islamic holidays. Under the federal public holiday law introduced in January 2025, both private and public sector employees are now entitled to the same paid days off. The table below lists every public holiday in the UAE for 2026.

Note: Islamic holiday dates are predicted using astronomical calculations and confirmed only after the official moon sighting, usually a day or two beforehand. The Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha dates above were confirmed by the UAE authorities for 2026. Individual emirates may add extra local days off.

Long Weekends in the UAE 2026

What’s Open and Closed on Public Holidays

This is where the UAE surprises many first-time UK visitors. Unlike much of Europe, the Emirates does not shut down on public holidays — quite the opposite. The hospitality and retail economy is built around them.

Closed or reduced: Government offices, federal and local authority departments, public and most private schools, and bank branches close on public holidays (online and app banking continues as normal). Some embassies and visa centres also close.

Open as usual — often busier: Shopping malls such as The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, cinemas, theme parks, beaches and tourist attractions stay open, frequently with extended hours and special Eid programming. Public transport, including the Dubai Metro, trams and taxis, runs to a holiday timetable that is usually close to normal service.

How UAE Public Holidays Compare with UK Bank Holidays

The contrast between the two systems is striking. The UK runs on a small, predictable set of fixed Gregorian dates; the UAE runs a larger, partly moveable calendar tied to the lunar Hijri year.

If you are mapping a UAE trip against time off back home, our list of UK bank holidays shows exactly where the two calendars line up, and our guide to long weekends in 2026 can help you stretch annual leave further.

Key Cultural Holidays Explained

Eid Al Fitr (19–22 March 2026) marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. The name means “festival of breaking the fast”. Families gather for large meals, children receive gifts and money known as Eidiyah, and cities stage fireworks and light shows. For visitors it is a vibrant, welcoming time, though daytime can feel quiet until the celebrations build after sunset.

Eid Al Adha (27–29 May 2026), the “festival of sacrifice”, is the holier of the two Eids. It coincides with the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is preceded by Arafat Day. Expect a more reflective, family-centred atmosphere alongside the festivities, and the country’s longest holiday break of the year.

Planning Your Trip Around Public Holidays

Public holidays shape both the price and the personality of a UAE trip. The Eid Al Adha break in late May is the peak of domestic tourism: hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah fill quickly and rates climb, so book several weeks ahead if you want to travel then. The same is true of the National Day weekend in early December, which lands in the cooler high season when the weather is at its best for British visitors escaping the winter.

If your priority is value and calmer attractions, target the gaps between holidays — late January, or the quieter weeks of autumn before the December rush. If your priority is atmosphere, time your visit to catch the fireworks of National Day or the buzz of Eid. When comparing flights from the UK, a flexible search across nearby dates (for example with a tool such as Skyscanner) often reveals that flying a day either side of a UAE long weekend is markedly cheaper, and accommodation platforms such as Booking.com let you hold a refundable rate while the moon-dependent Islamic dates are finalised.

Because the UAE shares the Eid holidays with much of the region — and sits on the main air corridor between Europe and South Asia — it pairs naturally with a wider trip. Travellers combining the Emirates with the subcontinent may find our guide to the public holidays in India useful for planning a multi-stop itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2026?
The UAE has around 12 to 14 days off in 2026 across eight holiday occasions, including the multi-day Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha breaks. Individual emirates may declare additional local holidays.

Are UAE public holiday dates confirmed in advance?
The Gregorian dates (New Year’s Day, Commemoration Day and National Day) are fixed. The Islamic holidays — both Eids, the Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday — are predicted astronomically but officially confirmed only after the moon sighting, usually a day or two before.

When is Eid Al Adha in the UAE in 2026?
Arafat Day falls on Tuesday 26 May 2026, with Eid Al Adha from Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 May. Combined with the weekend, this gives most people a six-day break from 26 to 31 May.

Do shops and malls close on UAE public holidays?
No. Shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants and attractions generally stay open, often with extended hours and special events. It is government offices, schools and bank branches that close.

Is alcohol available on public holidays in the UAE?
Usually yes, in licensed hotels and bars. On the most solemn days — Commemoration Day and the first day of Eid — some venues pause music or briefly suspend alcohol service out of respect, so check locally for that evening.

What is the difference between Commemoration Day and National Day?
Commemoration Day (1 December) honours Emirati martyrs and is a solemn day of remembrance. National Day (2–3 December) is a celebratory occasion marking the founding of the UAE federation in 1971.

Will public holidays affect my UAE travel plans?
They can. The Eid Al Adha break in late May and the National Day weekend in early December bring higher hotel prices and busier attractions, so book ahead. Outside those windows, holidays mainly mean closed government offices, which rarely affect tourists.

Sources & Last Verified

This guide was compiled by cross-checking multiple independent sources:

• python-holidays library (UAE module, 2026) — base dataset for Islamic and national holidays
• Time Out Dubai — UAE public holidays 2026, based on the federal public holiday law (April 2024, introduced January 2025): timeoutdubai.com
• UAE Government Portal (u.ae) and regional press — Commemoration Day and National Day confirmation
• UK travel search (SERP) cross-reference for traveller-facing details

Last verified: 18 June 2026
Author: Bank Holidays UK Editorial Team