UAE Working Days Calculator
Calculate the number of working days between two dates. Excludes weekends and UAE public holidays. Perfect for project planning, notice periods, and payroll.
UAE switched to Sat–Sun weekends in Jan 2022
UAE Public Holidays 2025–2026
2025
2026
How It Works
Three steps to calculate your working days
Select Dates
Pick your start and end dates. Both dates are included in the count.
Choose Options
Select your weekend type (Sat–Sun or Fri–Sat) and whether to exclude public holidays.
View Results
See working days, weekend days, and public holidays with a detailed breakdown.
UAE Working Days Guide
Key facts about working days and public holidays in the UAE
UAE Weekend
- Saturday–Sunday since Jan 2022
- Previously Friday–Saturday
- Federal govt: 4.5 day work week
- Most private sector: 5 days
- Some free zones: Fri–Sat weekend
Public Holidays
- ~14 public holiday days per year
- Islamic holidays: approximate dates
- National Day: 2–3 Dec
- Commemoration Day: 1 Dec
- New Year's Day: 1 Jan
Planning Tips
- Check holidays before setting deadlines
- Eid periods: 3–4 day clusters
- Notice periods are in calendar days
- Probation: counted in calendar days
- Annual leave: 30 calendar days/year
Islamic holiday dates are approximate and depend on moon sighting. Exact dates are confirmed by the UAE government shortly before each occasion. This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the weekend days in the UAE?
Since January 1, 2022, the UAE follows a Saturday–Sunday weekend for the federal government and most private sector companies. Previously, the weekend was Friday–Saturday. Some private companies, especially in free zones, may still observe a Friday–Saturday weekend.
How many working days are there in a year in the UAE?
With a Saturday–Sunday weekend and excluding UAE public holidays, a typical year has approximately 250–253 working days. The exact number varies each year depending on how public holidays fall relative to weekends.
What are the UAE public holidays?
The UAE observes approximately 14 public holiday days per year: New Year's Day (1 day), Eid Al Fitr (3–4 days), Arafat Day (1 day), Eid Al Adha (3 days), Islamic New Year (1 day), Prophet's Birthday (1 day), Commemoration Day (1 day), and National Day (2 days).
Are Islamic holidays on fixed dates?
No. Islamic holidays (Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Islamic New Year, and Prophet's Birthday) follow the Hijri lunar calendar and depend on moon sighting. The exact dates are confirmed by the UAE government shortly before each occasion. Dates shown in this calculator are approximate.
Do all companies in the UAE follow the same weekends?
Not necessarily. While the federal government and most large companies follow a Saturday–Sunday weekend, some private sector companies — particularly in certain free zones — may still observe a Friday–Saturday weekend. Check with your employer.
How do I calculate the notice period in working days?
UAE labour law specifies notice periods in calendar days (30, 60, or 90 days), not working days. However, you can use this calculator to see how many actual working days fall within your notice period to plan your workload and handover.
Are Fridays working days in the UAE?
Since 2022, most companies work a Monday–Friday week, making Friday a working day (half-day for federal government). However, some companies, especially in free zones, may have Friday off as part of a Friday–Saturday weekend.
Do public holidays carry over if they fall on a weekend?
There is no universal rule. The UAE government typically announces whether a public holiday that falls on a weekend will be compensated with an additional day off. This varies each year and is decided on a case-by-case basis.
How does this calculator handle partial weeks?
The calculator counts each day individually between your start and end dates (inclusive). It checks whether each day is a weekend day or a public holiday, giving you an exact count of working days regardless of partial weeks.
Can I use this to calculate project timelines?
Yes. Enter your project start date and deadline to see how many actual working days you have. This helps with realistic planning, especially around holiday periods like Eid Al Fitr and National Day when multiple days off cluster together.
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