UAE Announces Eid Holidays 2026

sEid al-Fitr marks the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan, and its date is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon. On this day, Muslims gather for early morning prayers at mosques and celebrate with family visits, acts of charity, and other festivities. In fact, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha together are the longest public holidays in the UAE. In early 2026, the UAE government officially announced the Eid holiday dates so residents can plan their breaks and celebrations ahead. Gulf News reported that “The UAE has announced that all public and private sector entities will be on holiday for Eid Al Fitr," confirming March 19–22 as the holiday period.

As required by UAE federal law, Eid al-Fitr is designated as an official public holiday. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced on Feb. 23, 2026, that the Eid holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22. This means all federal government offices and public institutions will be closed during that period, with normal work resuming on Monday, March 23. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation clarified that private-sector employees will get a paid holiday from March 19 through March 21, adding Sunday, March 22 if Ramadan lasts 30 days. In total, federal employees get a four-day break, while private workers get three or four days off, depending on the length of Ramadan.

• Public sector employees: Holiday from March 19 (Thu) through March 22 (Sun), 2026 (work resumes Mon, Mar 23).
• Private sector employees: Holiday from March 19 (Thu) through March 21 (Sat), 2026; extended to March 22 (Sun) if Ramadan lasts 30 days.
• Eid Al-Fitr (Day 1 of Shawwal): Expected on Friday, March 20, 2026, which falls within the announced break.

For context, astronomers project that Ramadan 1447 AH (2026) will likely begin around February 18–19, which would make Eid al-Fitr fall on March 20, 2026. The UAE’s schedule covers this possibility by including March 19–22 as the holiday. After the break, government work resumes on March 23. Authorities also encourage people to plan travel and festive events around the announced dates.

In summary, the announced Eid al-Fitr dates fit into the UAE’s broader holiday calendar for 2026. The March 19–22 break creates a four-day weekend for most workers. In fact, the UAE public holidays 2026 calendar shows Eid al-Fitr in March and Eid al-Adha in late May. If official moon sightings confirm those projections, the Eid al-Adha holiday could extend through the weekend into the first week of June. For now, UAE families can mark March 19–22 for Eid al-Fitr and tentatively late May 2026 for Eid al-Adha celebrations.

According to the UAE’s Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), Arafat Day (the day before Eid al-Adha) in 2026 falls on Tuesday, May 26, with Eid al-Adha from Wednesday, May 27 to Friday, May 29. The key dates are:

• Arafat Day: Tuesday, May 26, 2026 (9 Dhu al-Hijjah).
• Eid Al-Adha: Wednesday, May 27, to Friday, May 29, 2026 (10–12 Dhu al-Hijjah).
• Extended break: Including the weekend (Sat, May 30, and Sun, May 31) could give UAE residents up to a six-day holiday.

These dates are based on astronomical calendars; the UAE’s official lunar calendar already lists Eid al-Adha 2026 on May 27–29. The final confirmation will come from the UAE’s moon-sighting committee just before the festival. In practice, the government announced March 19–22 in advance to cover both scenarios (29 or 30 days of Ramadan), ensuring no confusion when the new moon is sighted.

Both Eid holidays will be officially confirmed by the moon-sighting committee shortly before each festival. Until then, residents have clear guidance: public sector workers will be off March 19–22, 2026, for Eid al-Fitr, and a long break is expected around late May 2026 for Eid al-Adha. Officials encourage families to use these dates to plan travel, social gatherings, and other holiday activities. In short, the UAE’s 2026 holiday schedule gives everyone advance notice: a four-day Eid al-Fitr break (March 19–22) and an anticipated multi-day Eid al-Adha break in late May 2026, pending the final moon-sighting confirmations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the UAE announces Eid holidays well in advance to help residents, businesses, and government entities plan smoothly. For 2026, Eid Al Fitr holidays are confirmed from March 19 to March 22 for the public sector, while private sector employees will receive March 19 to March 21, with a possible extension to March 22 depending on the length of Ramadan. Work will officially resume after the break as per government guidelines.

Eid Al Adha holidays are also expected in late May 2026, with Arafat Day and the three days of Eid forming an extended public holiday period, subject to moon sighting confirmation. Both public and private sector announcements follow official circulars issued by the concerned UAE authorities to ensure clarity and consistency across the country.

As always, residents are advised to follow official government updates for final confirmation of dates, especially because Islamic holidays depend on moon sightings. The announcement gives families, employees, and businesses enough time to prepare for travel plans, leave arrangements, and operational planning.