UAE Public Holiday Calendar 2026: Plan Your Travel and UAE Visa in Advance

UAE Public Holiday Calendar 2026: Plan Your Travel and UAE Visa in Advance

Jun 11, 2026
Rihanna Gaur

    Many travelers plan to visit the UAE for different purposes. They want to know about the upcoming UAE Public Holidays 2026 so that they can make plans regarding festivals like Eid, the Islamic New Year, and many more, so that they can enjoy the long weekends and explore the UAE according to their itinerary with the amazing crowd.

    There will be a grand celebration starting with the Eid holidays 2026, which offers you the greatest experience in the UAE. The country basically offers diversity, culture, and tradition. It is very important to hold a valid passport and visa through a trusted platform like Visa Commit, as it helps the tourists to make the journey more convenient.

    UAE Public Holidays 2026

    It is very important to make everything arranged according to your decided itinerary for the UAE, and to clear all doubts related to dates and UAE holidays 2026, you are given a UAE holiday calendar 2026 below:

    UAE Public Holidays  (Months) Public Holidays in 2026 Dates & Days 
    January New Year's Day 01 January / Thursday
    March Eid al-Fitr 20 March / Friday
    May< Arafat (Hajj) Day 26 May / Tuesday
    Eid al-Adha 27 May / Wednesday
    June Islamic New Year 15 June / Monday
    August Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday 25 August / Tuesda
    December UAE National Day 2 December / Wednesday

    New Year's Day

    The New Year is celebrated every year on 01 January, 2026 in the UAE and all across the world. The UAE has marked the day as a holiday under the UAE national holidays 2026, the government and private sector employees will remain on holiday on the day.

    Generally, Dubai looks so pretty on the day because of the fireworks, drone shows, and the concerts that take place at major locations. Ras Al Khaimah is quite famous for organising the fireworks, which break records every year, along with the amazing drone shows.

    Eid Al Fitr

    The UAE holidays 2026 also include Eid Al Fitr as a major celebration that is celebrated every year all across the UAE. The muslims start the day usually with the morning prayers, then family gatherings and Eid exchanges, and completed by charity work. The Eid Al Fitr of 2026 was celebrated on Friday, 20 March, 2026.

    Arafat Day

    Arafat Day 2026 was celebrated on 26 May, this occasion basically falls just one day before Eid Al-Adha. The day is basically marked as the 2nd peak day of the annual Hajj Pilgrimage. Many believers spend their day fasting, reading the Quran, and making dua, as the day is considered the holiest and most blessed day of the Islamic calendar. Arafat is officially announced as a public holiday for both public and private sectors and leads to the UAE long weekends 2026, as it is followed by Eid Al-Adha.

    Eid Al Adha

    UAE celebrated Eid Al-Adha from 27 May this year, leading to 29 May, 2026. The day is usually marked as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” which is popularly known for the prayers and the charity works done by the muslim community. The day provided extended holidays to both the Public and Private sectors, as the public sector receives 5 days of holiday while private sector employees receive 4 days according to the Dubai holidays 2026.

    Islamic New Year

    The Islamic New Year, or Hijri New Year 2026, is officially announced to be celebrated on 15 June 2026. The private and public sectors will receive a day off on the day under the UAE public holiday list 2026, and many will have a long weekend of 3 days, who have Saturday and Sunday as a week off. Many Muslims considered day as the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

    Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

    25 August is celebrated as the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad every year, and a national holiday is provided to both public and private sectors. The muslims cover their day by reading the Quran, special prayers, and poetry, as it is included in UAE government holidays 2026. On this day, the community basically gives charity to the people who are in need.

    UAE National Day

    The UAE National Day is also known as Eid Al Etihad and celebrated on 2 December every year as the day on which the seven Emirates became united to form the United Arab Emirates. The occasion is filled with joy and performances of grand artistic and theatrical moments that show the heritage of the nation.

    Best Time to Visit the UAE in 2026

    Many tourists have doubts about their upcoming trip to the UAE regarding the time and weather, so it is advised to visit the UAE between November & March, as the country has pleasant and cool temperatures from 20℃ to 30℃. You can enjoy sightseeing, desert safari, beaches, and the amazing shopping experiences in the UAE, as many activities requires the temperature cool to be explored like camel riding and desert safari. This is the peak season to visit the UAE, as it features major events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but it also brings high crowds.

    If you are thinking of the best attractive places in the UAE to be visited during your upcoming trip during UAE Public Holidays 2026, then it is very important to select the places that have the perfect vibe, crowd, and desirable moments as per the requirement. Here are some of the best places to visit:

    • Museum of the Future
    • Burj Khalifa
    • Al Montazas Parks
    • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center
    • Ferrari World Yas Island
    • Louvre

    UAE Visa Requirements for Tourists in 2026

    If you are moving towards the UAE, then you need to know the requirements and formalities to visit the UAE. You are required to have a valid visa, a passport-size photo, confirmation of a return flight, accommodation details, and the UAE visa. Your passport must have the validity of 6 months, and the visa needs to be processed with the perfect or trustful platform that makes the trip more smooth and convenient to travel, like Visa Commit. This platform will process all types of required visas for tourists in the minimum time period, as it has a premium visa services option to proceed and get the visa faster. This platform will provide you with all the information, like a UAE travel guide 2026, so that every tourist can make their plan perfectly.

    FAQs About UAE Public Holiday Calendar 2026: Plan Your Travel and UAE Visa in Advance & Other Topics.

    The UAE Public Holidays 2026 basically include various festivals and occasions like New Year's Day, Eid al-Fitr, Arafat (Hajj) Day, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, and the UAE National Day.

    Yes, the holiday dates in the UAE are confirmed by the government.

    Eid al-Adha offers the longest break as a holiday in the UAE.

    Yes, it is important to have a UAE Visa during public holidays.

    Yes, sometimes the visa processing slows down due to the holidays of the departments.

    The best time to visit the UAE is between November & March.

    You are advised to apply for a UAE Visa 10-15 days before the EID Holidays.

    Yes, government offices are closed during public holidays.

    Yes, UAE public holidays are paid holidays.

    There are 11 official public holidays expected in the UAE in 2026.