UAE public holidays

Use the official UAE list, not an old travel calendar

UAE public holidays apply across the public and private sectors, but several of the important dates follow the Hijri lunar calendar and are confirmed according to moon sighting. That makes copied Gregorian-date lists a poor planning tool. The official UAE Government holiday page is the right baseline, and individual ministries issue dated announcements as each holiday approaches.

As of the government's July 2026 update, the national framework includes Gregorian New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, and National Day on 2 and 3 December. One important correction to older guides: Commemoration Day on 1 December is not listed as a separate federal public holiday in the current official holiday schedule.

The fixed-date holidays are easy; the lunar ones are not

New Year's Day is 1 January. National Day is observed on 2 and 3 December and marks the establishment of the UAE federation in 1971. Those dates are straightforward to plan around.

The Islamic holidays move through the Gregorian calendar. Eid Al Fitr begins with Shawwal after Ramadan; the current framework provides holidays from 1 to 3 Shawwal, with an additional holiday if Ramadan runs to 30 days. Arafah Day is 9 Dhu Al Hijjah and Eid Al Adha follows from 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah. Hijri New Year is 1 Muharram and the Prophet Mohammed's birthday is 12 Rabi' Al Awwal. Do not lock a non-refundable itinerary around a predicted Gregorian date months ahead.

What changes for a visitor in Abu Dhabi

Government offices and many workplaces close, while malls, hotels and major visitor attractions often continue operating with holiday hours or special programmes. The practical effect for a tourist is usually not that the city shuts down, but that demand shifts: families are off work, restaurants can be busier, roads around celebration areas can be crowded and some smaller services keep reduced hours.

National Day is particularly visible in the capital, with flags, public events and heavier evening traffic around popular waterfront areas. Eid periods can also create strong domestic travel and dining demand. If your dates overlap a multi-day holiday, confirm attraction hours directly and reserve the experiences you care about instead of assuming a normal weekday pattern.

Weekend rules do not automatically rescue a holiday date

The current UAE Government guidance notes that under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, a public holiday is not transferred merely because it coincides with another public holiday or falls on the weekend. That matters when you are counting on a long weekend from a calendar graphic made for a different year.

For travellers, the safest method is simple: check the official holiday list when planning, then re-check the dated government announcement close to travel for lunar holidays. Hotel cancellation windows, attraction tickets and restaurant bookings should follow the confirmed dates, not social-media predictions.

Ramadan is important even though it is not itself one long public holiday

Ramadan changes daily rhythms even though the month is not a continuous public holiday. Opening patterns, dining behaviour and evening activity can differ, with the city becoming especially lively after sunset. Eid Al Fitr is the public-holiday period at the end of Ramadan. If you are travelling then, read the separate Ramadan guide rather than treating the holiday calendar as a complete etiquette guide.

My holiday-week checklist

• Check the official UAE public-holiday page.
• For a lunar holiday, look for the latest dated federal or ministry announcement.
• Confirm the attraction's own hours, especially on the first day of Eid or around National Day events.
• Book popular restaurants and headline attractions earlier than you would on an ordinary weekday.
• Allow more road time around major evening celebrations.