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1JanThu
New Year's Day رأس السنة الميلادية
Paid holiday for public and private sectors under Cabinet Decision 27/2024; offices closed, ports operate.
“Happy New Year” · سنة جديدة سعيدة
Holidays & cultural calendar · 2026–2027
United Arab Emirates: public holidays, festivals and cultural events
Business slows during Ramadan and stops around the two Eids; summer (Jul–Aug) is the quietest period as many decision-makers travel, while Q4–Q1 is the peak season for projects and trade events.
- Public holidays 2026
- 7
- Public holidays 2027
- 7
- Weekend
- Sat–Sun (federal government works a half day on Friday; Sharjah Fri–Sun)
- Calendars
- Gregorian · Islamic (Hijri)
Open the calendar →United Arab Emirates: market & import rules
From today to 31 December 2026
Greetings and notices for the United Arab Emirates
A banner for every holiday and cultural event until the end of the year – share it with partners or download it for e-mail and social media.
202611 dates202711 dates Public holiday Regional holiday Festivals & observances 12small number = Islamic (Hijri) day Full moon
United Arab Emirates calendar 2026
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11321431541651761871982092110221123122413251426152716281729181 Dhuʻ1922032142252362472582692710281129123013
May 2026
June 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu115216317418519620721822923102411251226132714281529161 Muha172183194205216227238249251026112712281329143015
July 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11621731841952062172282392410251126122713281429151 Safa16217318419520621722823924102511261227132814291530163117
August 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu1182193204215226237248259261027112812291330141 Rabi152163174185196207218229231024112512261327142815291630173118
September 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11922032142252362472582692710281129121 Rabi1321431541651761871982092110221123122413251426152716281729183019
October 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12022132242352462572682792810291130121 Juma13214315416517618719820921102211231224132514261527162817291830193120
November 2026
MoTuWeThFrSaSu1212223234245256267278289291030111 Juma12213314415516617718819920102111221223132414251526162717281829193020
January 2026
- 16JanFri
Isra and Mi'raj الإسراء والمعراج
27 Rajab 1447 AH · estimated
Commemorates the Prophet's night journey; no longer a public holiday in the UAE. No business effect.
February 2026
- 3FebTue
Hag Al Laila حق الليلة
15 Sha'ban 1447 AH · estimated
Emirati children's tradition two weeks before Ramadan: children go door to door collecting sweets and nuts. Cultural, no business effect.
- 18FebWed
Ramadan رمضان
1–29/30 Ramadan 1447 AH
Holy month of fasting (began 18 Feb 2026). Private-sector working day cut by 2 hours and government hours shortened; meetings move to late morning and evenings, progress slows.
“Ramadan Kareem” · رمضان كريم
March 2026
- 19MarThu
Eid al-Fitr holiday عيد الفطر
29 Ramadan – 3 Shawwal 1447 AH
Eid al-Fitr fell on 20 Mar 2026 (1 Shawwal 1447). Federal government closed 19–22 Mar and the private sector 19–21/22 Mar; most offices, banks and free-zone authorities closed.
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد فطر مبارك
May 2026
- 26MayTue
Arafat Day يوم عرفة
9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH
Day of Arafah during Hajj; first day of a 4-day public/private holiday block (26–29 May 2026; federal government from 25 May).
- 27MayWed
Eid al-Adha عيد الأضحى
10–12 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH
Feast of the Sacrifice. Public and private sectors closed; ports run, but customs clearance and offices largely stop.
“Eid al-Adha Mubarak” · عيد أضحى مبارك
June 2026
- 15JunMon
Islamic New Year (holiday) رأس السنة الهجرية
1 Muharram 1448 AH (16 Jun), holiday moved to Mon 15 Jun
Hijri year 1448 began on 16 Jun 2026; the Cabinet moved the paid holiday to Monday 15 Jun to create a long weekend.
“Happy Hijri New Year” · كل عام وأنتم بخير
August 2026
- 28AugFri
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (holiday) المولد النبوي الشريف
12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH (≈25 Aug), holiday moved to Fri 28 Aug
Mawlid al-Nabawi; the UAE Government Media Office set the paid day off on Friday 28 Aug 2026 for federal and private-sector staff.
November 2026
- 30NovMon
Commemoration Day (Martyrs' Day) يوم الشهيد
Honours Emiratis who died in service; flags at half-mast and a minute's silence. Not listed as a separate paid holiday in Cabinet Decision 27/2024.
“With respect and remembrance”
December 2026
- 2DecWed
Eid Al Etihad (National Day) عيد الاتحاد
Celebrates the union of the seven emirates on 2 Dec 1971 (55th anniversary). Two paid holidays; combined with the weekend most businesses stop 2–6 Dec.
“Happy Eid Al Etihad” · عيد اتحاد سعيد
United Arab Emirates calendar 2027
January 2027
February 2027
March 2027
April 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12422532642752862973081 Dhuʻ9210311412513614715816917101811191220132114221523162417251826192720282129223023
May 2027
June 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12622732842953061 Muha7283941051161271381491510161117121813191420152116221723182419252026212722282329243025
July 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12622732842951 Safa62738495106117128139141015111612171318141915201621172218231924202521262227232824292530263127
August 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12822931 Rabi42536475869710811912101311141215131614171518161917201821192220232124222523262427252826292730283129
September 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu13021 Rabi3243546576879810911101211131214131514161517161817191820192120222123222423252426252726282729283029
October 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu11 Juma2233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829293030311 Juma
November 2027
MoTuWeThFrSaSu12233445566778899101011111212131314141515161617171818191920202121222223232424252526262727282829291 Raja302
January 2027
- 1JanFri
New Year's Day رأس السنة الميلادية
Paid holiday for public and private sectors.
“Happy New Year” · سنة جديدة سعيدة
- 5JanTue
Isra and Mi'raj الإسراء والمعراج
27 Rajab 1448 AH · estimated
Commemorates the Prophet's night journey; not a public holiday.
- 23JanSat
Hag Al Laila حق الليلة
15 Sha'ban 1448 AH · estimated
Emirati children's mid-Sha'ban tradition of collecting sweets before Ramadan.
February 2027
- 8FebMon
Ramadan (expected) رمضان
1–29/30 Ramadan 1448 AH · estimated
Expected start; confirmed by moon sighting. Working hours shortened by 2 hours in the private sector.
“Ramadan Kareem” · رمضان كريم
March 2027
- 9MarTue
Eid al-Fitr (expected) عيد الفطر
1–3 Shawwal 1448 AH · estimated
Expected per astronomical calculation; the holiday runs 29 Ramadan–3 Shawwal and is announced by FAHR/MOHRE after moon sighting.
“Eid Mubarak” · عيد فطر مبارك
May 2027
- 15MaySat
Arafat Day (expected) يوم عرفة
9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH · estimated
Expected; first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday block.
- 16MaySun
Eid al-Adha (expected) عيد الأضحى
10–12 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AH · estimated
Expected; three-day holiday after Arafat Day for public and private sectors.
“Eid al-Adha Mubarak” · عيد أضحى مبارك
June 2027
- 6JunSun
Islamic New Year (expected) رأس السنة الهجرية
1 Muharram 1449 AH · estimated
Expected; the Cabinet may move this non-Eid holiday to the start or end of the week.
“Happy Hijri New Year” · كل عام وأنتم بخير
August 2027
- 14AugSat
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (expected) المولد النبوي الشريف
12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1449 AH · estimated
Expected; falls on a Saturday so the paid day off may be moved by Cabinet decision.
November 2027
- 30NovTue
Commemoration Day (Martyrs' Day) يوم الشهيد
Honours Emiratis who died in service; flags at half-mast.
“With respect and remembrance”
December 2027
- 2DecThu
Eid Al Etihad (National Day) عيد الاتحاد
56th anniversary of the union; two paid holidays (Thu–Fri) giving a 4-day weekend.
“Happy Eid Al Etihad” · عيد اتحاد سعيد
Business closures ahead in the United Arab Emirates
Days when government offices, customs, banks and most companies close. Allow for them in approval cycles, payment dates, vessel arrivals and site deliveries.
| Date | Occasion | When | Calendar | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 Dec 2026Wednesday | Eid Al Etihad (National Day)عيد الاتحاد | In 35 days | Gregorian | National |
| 1 Jan 2027Friday | New Year's Dayرأس السنة الميلادية | In 65 days | Gregorian | National |
| 9–11 Mar 2027Tuesday | Eid al-Fitr (expected)عيد الفطر | In 132 days | Islamic (Hijri)1–3 Shawwal 1448 AHestimated | National |
| 15 May 2027Saturday | Arafat Day (expected)يوم عرفة | In 199 days | Islamic (Hijri)9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AHestimated | National |
| 16–18 May 2027Sunday | Eid al-Adha (expected)عيد الأضحى | In 200 days | Islamic (Hijri)10–12 Dhu al-Hijjah 1448 AHestimated | National |
| 6 Jun 2027Sunday | Islamic New Year (expected)رأس السنة الهجرية | In 221 days | Islamic (Hijri)1 Muharram 1449 AHestimated | National |
| 2–3 Dec 2027Thursday | Eid Al Etihad (National Day)عيد الاتحاد | In 400 days | Gregorian | National |
Approvals & RFQs
Send shop drawings for approval at least two weeks before a long holiday – reviews stop while engineers and authorities are away.
Vessel arrival
Customs clearance and container release pause on public holidays; storage and demurrage keep running. Time the ETA after the break.
Landed cost to United Arab Emirates →Site deliveries
Crane hire, trucking permits and site access are limited around holidays. Agree the erection sequence and delivery windows in advance.
Vietnam holidays too
Our factory plans production around Tết (Lunar New Year) and National Day – we lock delivery dates for your project well ahead of both.
Request a quotation →Sources & notes
Dates follow official government lists where published. Islamic and other moon-sighting dates, and holidays not yet gazetted for next year, are marked "estimated" and may move by a day. Always confirm with your local partner before fixing a deadline.
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