UAE Public Holidays 2026: A Complete Guide to Stretching Annual Leave into Long Breaks Without Bending the Rules

Consider this your go-to holiday planner for 2026. After crunching the numbers last year, we are back with an updated public holiday calculator to help UAE residents build longer breaks, plan mini-vacations and enjoy stress-free time off — all without exhausting their annual leave.

Thanks to the UAE’s ‘transferable’ public holiday rule, which was applied during the 2025 Eid Al Etihad break, employees have greater flexibility than ever to align leave days with long weekends. The result: fewer leave applications, longer getaways and no need to stare endlessly at the calendar.

With a handful of strategically placed leave days, 2026 offers multiple chances to turn short holidays into extended breaks that feel far longer than the leave taken.

New Year’s Day: An easy start to 2026

The year began with a potential win. New Year’s Day fell on Thursday, January 1. Had the government transferred the holiday to Friday, residents would have enjoyed a three-day weekend.

As the holiday was not transferred, those who took just one day of annual leave on Friday, January 2, were able to combine it with the weekend and enjoy a four-day break to ease into the new year.

Eid Al Fitr: March opportunity for a nine-day break

Eid Al Fitr is marked with three public holidays for Shawwal 1–3. In 2026, the festival is expected to fall from Friday to Sunday, March 20–22, subject to confirmation following the Shawwal moon sighting.

By applying for annual leave from Monday to Thursday, March 16–19, residents could enjoy nine consecutive days off, from Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 22, including weekends and the Eid holidays.

Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: One of the year’s longest breaks

Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are set to offer one of 2026’s most attractive holiday windows. Arafah Day (Dhul Hijjah 9) is expected on Tuesday, May 26, followed by Eid Al Adha from Wednesday, May 27, to Friday, May 29. Final dates will depend on moon sighting.

Taking annual leave on Monday, May 25, and combining the two surrounding weekends could give residents up to nine days off with minimal leave usage.

Hijri New Year: A mid-year mini-break

The Islamic New Year is expected to fall on Tuesday, June 16, pending moon sighting. Taking Monday, June 15, off would allow for a four-day break including the weekend. As with other holidays, the day may be transferable, subject to a Cabinet decision.

Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday: August long weekend potential

Another opportunity arrives in late summer. Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) birthday is expected on Tuesday, August 25. Taking Monday, August 24, as annual leave could turn the period into a four-day break. The holiday may also be transferable, depending on government approval.

UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad): Ending the year on a high

The two-day UAE National Day holiday in 2026 falls on Wednesday and Thursday, December 2–3. If the dates remain unchanged, taking annual leave on Monday, November 30, Tuesday, December 1, and Friday, December 4, would create a nine-day break including weekends.

Should the Cabinet transfer the Eid Al Etihad holiday, the period could turn into a four-day weekend, making it even easier to plan an extended end-of-year escape.

The big picture

With 12 official public holidays and just 11 carefully chosen annual leave days, UAE residents could potentially enjoy up to 39 days off in 2026 when weekends are included — proof that a little planning goes a long way.