Planning leave, travel or a job start date? You need the UAE public holidays 2027 calendar, and you need to know which dates are fixed and which depend on the moon. This guide lists the official holidays for private-sector employees, explains why some dates are still estimates, and sets out your pay rights if you work on a public holiday.
It also covers the last holiday of 2026, Eid Al Etihad (National Day), so you can plan the rest of this year as well.
How UAE public holidays are set
Since 1 January 2025, the UAE has used one standing list of public holidays for both the public and private sectors. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets that list, so the Cabinet does not need to issue a new calendar every year. As a result, the 2027 holidays follow the same resolution.
However, two things still change from year to year. First, the Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, so their Gregorian dates move about 11 days earlier each year and depend on moon sighting. Second, the resolution allows the Cabinet to move some holidays, other than the Eids, to the start or end of the week. For that reason, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) confirms each private-sector holiday shortly before it happens.
UAE public holidays 2027: the full list
The table below follows Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. The Islamic dates are astronomical estimates reported by UAE media, so treat them as a guide until MoHRE announces each holiday.
| Holiday | Length | Expected date in 2027 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 day | Friday 1 January | Fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | 3 days (4 if Ramadan has 30 days) | Around 9–11 March | Estimate; depends on moon sighting |
| Arafat Day | 1 day | Around mid-May | Estimate |
| Eid Al Adha | 3 days | Around mid-May, after Arafat Day | Estimate |
| Hijri New Year | 1 day | Around 6 June | Estimate |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | 1 day | Around 14 August | Estimate |
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 days | Thursday 2 – Friday 3 December | Fixed date; can be moved by the Cabinet |
Why Eid Al Fitr might be three or four days
Under the resolution, Eid Al Fitr runs from 1 to 3 Shawwal. In addition, if Ramadan completes 30 days, the 30th day of Ramadan also becomes a holiday. In other words, the Eid Al Fitr break is three days in some years and four in others.
For 2027, the Emirates Astronomical Society expects Ramadan to begin on or around Monday 8 February, according to Gulf News. On that basis, Eid Al Fitr would fall around 9 or 10 March. Some outlets give 10–12 March instead, so wait for the official moon sighting before you book non-refundable travel.
National Day 2026: the next public holiday
The resolution fixes Eid Al Etihad as 2 and 3 December every year. In 2026, those dates fall on Wednesday and Thursday. However, the Cabinet moved the holiday once before: in 2025, it shifted the break to Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December, and MoHRE confirmed this on 17 November 2025.
As of late October 2026, we have not seen a 2026 announcement. Therefore, plan around 2–3 December, but expect MoHRE to confirm the private-sector dates around mid-November, and check its website or app before you finalise travel.
Your rights on public holidays as a private-sector employee
For private-sector employees on the mainland, Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 sets two rules:
- Paid days off. You are entitled to official public holidays with full pay.
- Working on a holiday. If your employer needs you to work, it must either give you another day off for each holiday day you work, or pay your normal wage for that day plus at least 50% of your basic wage for the day.
For example, suppose your basic salary is AED 4,500 a month and your employer uses a 30-day month. Your basic daily wage is then AED 150, so working on a holiday earns you that day’s normal pay plus at least AED 75, unless you take a replacement day off instead. Ask HR how it calculates the daily rate, because company policies differ.
Public holidays during annual leave
If a public holiday falls inside your annual leave, the rules on how it counts are covered in our annual leave guide. Similarly, if your salary date falls on a holiday, our guide to the UAE salary payment rules explains what to expect.
Who these rules cover
The holiday list applies to both sectors. However, federal and local government employees follow their own HR rules, and free-zone employers may apply their own regulations. Domestic workers come under a separate law. If any of these apply to you, check with your HR department or authority.
How to plan around the 2027 holidays
- Book flexible tickets for the Eids. Islamic holiday dates can shift by a day, so choose fares you can change.
- Request annual leave early. Many employees combine leave with Eid or National Day, so teams fill up quickly.
- Check working-hour changes. During Ramadan, MoHRE usually announces reduced hours for the private sector. Our working hours guide explains the rules.
- Starting a new job? Agree your joining date with your new employer around the holidays, especially if visa processing is involved.
Frequently asked questions
Has the UAE announced the 2027 public holidays?
The list itself is already set by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which applies every year. However, the exact Islamic holiday dates depend on moon sighting, so MoHRE confirms each one shortly before it happens.
Are private and public sector holidays the same in the UAE?
Yes. Since 2025, one list applies to both sectors. Still, the government and MoHRE issue separate announcements confirming each holiday.
Do I get paid extra for working on a public holiday?
Under Article 28 of the Labour Law, your employer must give you a replacement day off, or pay your normal daily wage plus at least 50% of your basic daily wage.
When is National Day 2026?
The legal dates are Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. The Cabinet can move the holiday, as it did in 2025, so check MoHRE’s announcement, expected around mid-November.
Plan ahead, then confirm
In short, New Year and National Day have fixed dates, while the Eids, Arafat Day, Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday move with the moon. Use the estimates above to plan, then confirm each holiday with MoHRE before you book.
Looking for a new role in 2027? Browse the latest jobs in UAE and plan your move around the holiday calendar.
This guide is based on Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, checked in October 2026. Islamic holiday dates are estimates until officially announced. It is general information, not legal advice.
