If your family lives a long flight away, the UAE public holiday calendar decides when trips home are affordable and how far your 30 days of annual leave can stretch.
The 2027 calendar is kind. Two breaks land on a Thursday or Friday with no leave needed, and Eid Al Fitr could hand you nine days off for a single leave day.
One caution first: every Islamic holiday below is an estimate. Each Hijri month runs 29 or 30 days, and the exact dates depend on the moon sighting and a formal government announcement. Book early if you must, but keep tickets flexible.
UAE public holidays 2027: the full list
The UAE weekend is Saturday and Sunday for most private-sector companies, so that is the assumption used throughout.
| Holiday | Expected date | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | 1 (three-day weekend, Fri to Sun) |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 or Friday 12 March | 3 or 4 |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May | 4 |
| Islamic New Year | Sunday 6 June | 1 (falls on the weekend) |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Saturday 14 August | 1 (falls on the weekend) |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December | 2 (four-day break, Thu to Sun) |
That is seven holiday occasions and 12 or 13 paid days in total, though two fall on a Saturday or Sunday. Only New Year's Day and Eid Al Etihad are fixed on the Gregorian calendar; the rest will be confirmed closer to the time.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the authorities may move some holidays to the start or end of the week. Treat the table as the base case, not a promise.
Long weekends and what each one costs in leave
New Year, 1 to 3 January: zero leave days. Add Monday 4 to Thursday 7 January (four leave days) for ten days off.
Eid Al Fitr, expected 9 to 12 March: one or two leave days. If the holiday runs Tuesday to Friday, it joins the weekend for a six-day break with no leave at all. Add Monday 8 March and you get nine days off, Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 March, for one leave day. If the holiday is only three days, Friday 12 March becomes your second leave day. Best value of the year, and the most fluid, so watch for the announcement in early March.
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, expected 15 to 18 May: three leave days. Two of the four days fall on the weekend, leaving Monday and Tuesday as the working days off. Take Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May for nine days away.
Islamic New Year and the Prophet's Birthday: no long weekend. Both fall on the weekend in 2027, so unless a transfer is announced they add nothing for Saturday-Sunday workers.
Eid Al Etihad, 2 to 5 December: zero leave days. Add Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December (three leave days) for nine days off.
If your company works a six-day week or different rest days, the maths shifts, so check your contract first.
What private-sector employees are entitled to
Public holidays are a separate paid entitlement under UAE labour law and are not deducted from your annual leave balance, even when they fall inside a leave block you have already booked. Our guide to annual leave and sick leave rights covers the 30-day entitlement.
If work circumstances mean you must come in on a public holiday, your employer owes you either a substitute rest day or your normal wage plus at least 50 percent of basic salary for that day. The full rules are in does your UAE boss make you work on public holidays without notice.
Your employer can also set when annual leave is taken according to business needs, with reasonable notice, which matters when half the office wants the same Eid week.
Planning tips for 2027
- Submit leave requests early. Eid Al Fitr and December are the busiest windows; a request lodged in January is harder to refuse than one lodged the week before.
- Book flights with a free change window around the Islamic holidays. A one-day shift in Eid can turn a Friday departure into a working day.
- Plan around Ramadan. Eid Al Fitr in March means Ramadan is expected through February and early March, with shorter working hours for many staff.
- Wait for the official announcement, not a social media screenshot, before promising a date to your family.
Key takeaway
The 2027 UAE holiday calendar offers two free long weekends and a possible nine-day Eid Al Fitr break for one leave day, but the Islamic dates stay provisional until the moon sighting. Request the popular weeks early, keep flights flexible, and remember that public holidays never come out of your 30-day annual leave.
FAQ
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
Eid Al Fitr 2027 is expected from Tuesday 9 March to Thursday 11 or Friday 12 March, depending on the moon sighting. A Friday finish means a six-day break with the weekend.
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?
Seven holiday occasions, giving 12 or 13 paid days off in total. Two of them, Islamic New Year and the Prophet's Birthday, fall on the weekend.
Is UAE National Day 2027 a long weekend?
Yes. Eid Al Etihad falls on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December 2027, which joins the weekend for a four-day break with no leave needed.
Do public holidays count against annual leave in the UAE?
No. Public holidays are a separate paid entitlement, so any that fall inside your booked leave should not be deducted from your annual leave balance.
