The UAE public holidays 2027 give you 12 paid days off, or 13 if Ramadan lasts 30 days. The same list applies to the government and the private sector. The year starts with New Year's Day on Friday 1 January and ends with Eid Al Etihad (National Day) on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December. Islamic holidays follow the moon, so their exact dates are confirmed only shortly before. Below you will find every date with its weekday, which dates are fixed and which are expected, and how to turn four holidays into long breaks.
We checked the holiday rules on the official UAE government public holidays page on 19 October 2026. The UAE Cabinet has not published an official 2027 calendar yet. Every Islamic date below is an expected date, and we will update this page when the official dates come out.
UAE public holidays 2027, status on 19 October 2026
Your 2027 holiday year at a glance
Red days are extra days off for a Monday to Friday worker. Dashed days fall on a weekend and give no extra day.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
* Fri 12 March is also a holiday if Ramadan has 30 days. Islamic dates are expected and depend on the moon sighting. New Year and Eid Al Etihad are fixed. Sources: u.ae, Gulf News (16 Oct 2026), Khaleej Times.
UAE public holidays 2027: all dates
| Holiday | Date in 2027 | Weekday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | Friday | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | 9 to 11 March (12 March if Ramadan has 30 days) | Tuesday to Thursday (or Friday) | Expected |
| Arafah Day | 15 May | Saturday | Expected |
| Eid Al Adha | 16 to 18 May | Sunday to Tuesday | Expected |
| Hijri New Year | 6 June | Sunday | Expected |
| Prophet Mohammed's Birthday | 14 August | Saturday | Expected |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | 2 and 3 December | Thursday and Friday | Fixed |
The fixed dates come from the official list. The expected dates come from astronomical forecasts reported by Gulf News on 16 October 2026 and Khaleej Times. Ramadan itself is expected to start on Monday 8 February 2027. Ramadan is not a holiday, but it changes working hours and daily life. Our guide to Ramadan rules for residents and visitors explains what to expect.
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?
The UAE has seven public holidays in 2027, which add up to 12 or 13 days. The count depends on Ramadan. If Ramadan has 30 days, the 30th day also becomes an Eid Al Fitr holiday.
There is a catch this year. Most people in the UAE have a Saturday and Sunday weekend, as explained in our article on the UAE working week. In 2027, four holiday days are expected to fall on a weekend:
- Arafah Day (Saturday 15 May)
- The first day of Eid Al Adha (Sunday 16 May)
- Hijri New Year (Sunday 6 June)
- Prophet Mohammed's Birthday (Saturday 14 August)
So a Monday to Friday worker gets only 8 or 9 extra days off from the holidays, not 12 or 13.
The 2027 weekend trap
On paper 13 days, in practice 9
Holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are not moved to a working day.
12 to 13
Holiday days on the official list
Seven holidays. The 13th day comes only if Ramadan lasts 30 days.
8 to 9
Extra days off you actually get
For a Monday to Friday worker, because four holiday days are expected to land on the weekend.
The four days expected to fall on a weekend
What it means: plan your annual leave around Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and National Day. Those are the breaks that still add real days off.
Rule: Article 3, Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 (quoted on u.ae). Islamic dates are expected, subject to moon sighting.
Can a holiday move if it falls on a weekend?
No. A holiday that falls on a weekend is not moved to a working day. This rule is in Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, and the official holidays page quotes it. You simply lose that day as a separate day off.
The Cabinet can move some holidays to the start or end of the week to make a long weekend. This does not apply to Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, which always stay on their dates. It used this power for National Day in 2025. For 2027 there is little to move: New Year's Day and National Day already touch the weekend, and the other movable holidays fall on the weekend.
The long weekends in 2027
These are the four long weekends in the UAE in 2027 worth planning around. The leave days assume a Monday to Friday week.
1. New Year: 3 days, or 9 with 4 leave days
New Year's Day is Friday 1 January, so you get Friday to Sunday off. Take Monday 28 to Thursday 31 December 2026 as leave, and you are off from Saturday 26 December to Sunday 3 January.
2. Eid Al Fitr: up to 9 days with 1 or 2 leave days
If Ramadan has 30 days, Eid runs Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March. Add one leave day on Monday 8 March, and you are off from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 March. If Ramadan has 29 days, the holiday ends on Thursday 11 March. You then need a second leave day on Friday 12 March for the same 9-day break.
3. Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: 4 days, or 9 with 3 leave days
The holiday is expected from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May. Take Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May as leave, and you are off from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May. This is the best value of the year, because Eid Al Adha cannot move.
4. Eid Al Etihad: 4 days, or 9 with 3 leave days
National Day falls on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December, so you get Thursday to Sunday off. Take Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December as leave, and you are off from Saturday 27 November to Sunday 5 December.
| Break | Days off without leave | Leave days | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| Eid Al Fitr (30-day Ramadan) | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| Eid Al Fitr (29-day Ramadan) | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Arafah and Eid Al Adha | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| Eid Al Etihad | 4 | 3 | 9 |
With the right leave days, all four breaks in the UAE public holidays 2027 calendar reach 9 days. Book flights only when the Islamic dates are confirmed. The final dates are announced a few days before each holiday, after the moon sighting.
Do private sector employees get the same days?
Yes. One list covers both the public and the private sector under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Private companies give the same days as the government, and the days are paid.
If your employer needs you to work on a public holiday, the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021) says you get a replacement day off or extra pay for that day. Some jobs, such as shift work in hotels or hospitals, often run through the holidays. If you employ staff, our UAE labour law guide for employers covers contracts and leave in more detail.
Holidays from other countries do not apply. Christmas, Easter and Diwali are normal working days in the UAE, so plan annual leave if you want them off.
