UAE National Day Holiday 2026: Dates, Pay Rules and Where to Go

The short answer: UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad), marking the 55th anniversary of the union, falls on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026, a two-day public holiday for both the public and private sectors. The dates are fixed because National Day follows the Gregorian calendar rather than the Hijri one, so unlike Eid it never depends on moon sighting. What is not yet settled, as of 9 October 2026, is whether the Cabinet will use its holiday-transfer rule to shift the break to the start or end of the week, the way it did for National Day 2025. Plan around 2–3 December and recheck closer to the date in case a transfer is announced.

UAE National Day 2026 at a glance

Detail	What we know
Holiday	Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day), the 55th anniversary of the union
Official dates	Wednesday 2 – Thursday 3 December 2026
Days off	2 days, for both the public and private sector
How firm is this	Fixed on the Government's annual public holidays list; a shift needs a separate Cabinet resolution, not announced as of 9 October 2026
Government weekend	Friday morning is a working half-day; the weekend runs from Friday afternoon through Sunday
Private-sector weekend	Most companies: Saturday–Sunday
Longest break without waiting on an announcement	Take Friday 4 December as leave for a 5-day break, Wednesday to Sunday
Schools	Closed 2–3 December; the winter break follows from 14 December
Working the holiday	A replacement day off, or pay plus at least 50% of basic wage for that day

Is 2 and 3 December definitely right for 2026?

Yes, on the basis of the Government's standing rule: National Day is set every year on 2 and 3 December, and the UAE's official portal, u.ae, ties the date to 1971, when the emirates formally unified. Because it runs on the Gregorian calendar, it does not shift with the moon the way Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha can. A quick calendar check confirms the weekdays: 2 December 2026 is a Wednesday and 3 December is a Thursday.

What is still open is the annual confirmation that normally comes from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) for the private sector, and any decision to move the days. For National Day 2025, that confirmation, including a transfer of the dates, was only issued in November 2025, a few weeks ahead of the holiday. As of 9 October 2026 we found no equivalent circular for 2026, so treat 2–3 December as the baseline and watch for an update next month.

Could the UAE move the holiday for a longer weekend?

Possibly, but it has not happened yet. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, in force since 1 January 2025, lets the Cabinet shift certain public holidays, including National Day, the Islamic New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and New Year's Day, to the start or end of the working week, as long as the holiday does not already fall on a weekend or coincide with another official holiday. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are excluded from this rule.

The rule has been used once so far. National Day 2025 was originally set for Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 December, and the Cabinet moved it to Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December, which gave residents on a Saturday–Sunday weekend a four-day break running from Saturday 29 November to Tuesday 2 December. Sharjah added an extra day on top of that.

For 2026, National Day already sits mid-week on Wednesday and Thursday, so it is a candidate for the same treatment, but no transfer has been announced. If the Cabinet does move it, expect the announcement in November, close to the holiday, as happened the year before. Even without any transfer, you can still build a 5-day break by taking a single day of annual leave on Friday 4 December, running Wednesday to Sunday.

What National Day means for private-sector pay

If you are simply off on 2 and 3 December, nothing further applies: it is two paid days off like any other public holiday. If your employer asks you to work on either day, Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 entitles you to one of two things: a replacement rest day, or your normal daily wage plus a premium of at least 50% of your basic wage for that day. The choice of which option applies generally rests with the employer, but either one must meet that statutory floor, and your contract can offer more.

This applies to employees of any grade once the employer has required the work, with permission. Agree which option applies before the day itself, and check your payslip afterwards; if neither a replacement day nor the premium appears, you can raise it with MOHRE.

Schools over National Day

Schools on the Ministry of Education's 2026–27 calendar are closed on 2 and 3 December 2026, and the official winter break follows soon after, running from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with classes resuming on Monday 4 January 2027. Dubai's KHDA generally lines up its main breaks with the MOE calendar, though individual curricula and private schools can vary slightly, so confirm with your own school before booking.

Because the winter break starts less than two weeks after National Day, many families save the bigger trip for the longer window and treat National Day as a shorter break instead. If that is you, see our New Year holiday in the UAE guide, linked below, for the winter break and the trips that suit it.

National Day events, briefly

Each emirate runs its own programme, usually announced a few weeks ahead through Dubai Calendar, Visit Abu Dhabi and similar official channels, so treat the pattern below as a guide rather than the confirmed 2026 schedule. In past years, fireworks have lit up Downtown Dubai and Abu Dhabi's Yas Island and Corniche, buildings across the country have carried light displays in the flag's colours, and individual emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, have run their own parades. Check the official tourism channels for your emirate closer to 2 December for venues and timings.

Where to go from Dubai on the National Day break

With flights of roughly four hours or less, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Turkey all fit comfortably into the 2–3 December break, especially if you add a day of leave either side.

Destination	Nonstop flight from Dubai	Visa for UAE residents
Georgia (Tbilisi)	About 3.5 hours	Visa-free up to 90 days with a valid, multiple-entry UAE residence permit (12+ months left), any nationality; otherwise a Georgian e-visa, about 5 working days
Armenia (Yerevan)	About 3.5–4 hours	Visa-free up to 180 days for 111 nationalities, including India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Egypt, with a UAE residence permit valid 6+ months (the arrangement runs 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2027); otherwise an e-visa, about AED 29–143
Azerbaijan (Baku)	About 3 hours	Visa on arrival or the ASAN e-visa for most nationalities, about 3 working days; Holidayys recommends the e-visa over arrival processing
Uzbekistan (Tashkent)	About 3.5 hours	UAE residence alone does not exempt you; apply for an e-visa online, about AED 73, 2–3 working days
Kazakhstan (Almaty)	About 4 hours	Depends on your passport: Filipino and Emirati nationals visa-free up to 30 days, Indian passports up to 14 days; most other nationalities need an e-visa with a local invitation, so allow at least a week
Turkey (Istanbul)	About 4 hours 45 minutes	Emiratis are visa-free; most other UAE residents need an e-visa (Indian and Pakistani passports also need a valid Schengen, UK, US or Ireland visa or residence) or a consulate visa

For the visa steps in full, see our guides to the Georgia visa from Dubai (visa service), Armenia visa for UAE residents (visa service), Azerbaijan visa from Dubai (visa service), Uzbekistan visa for UAE residents, Kazakhstan visa for UAE residents, and Turkey visa from Dubai (visa service).

Booking tips for the National Day break

• Book flights and hotels as soon as your dates are fixed. Fares and room rates on these routes typically climb through late November as the holiday nears, whether or not a transfer is announced.
• Start visas early for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey. An invitation, or a qualifying foreign visa for some passports, can add days to the process, so apply at least two weeks ahead. Georgia and Armenia are usually quicker if your UAE residence already qualifies you for visa-free entry.
• If a transfer is announced in November, expect prices on the new dates to move quickly, since everyone is working from the same updated calendar.

Plan your National Day trip with Holidayys

All seven of our UAE National Day packages depart on 2 December 2026. Prices are per person and change with dates and availability.

Package	Duration	From
Georgia	6D/5N	AED 2,999
Armenia	5D/4N	AED 2,799
Azerbaijan	6D/5N	AED 3,199
Uzbekistan	7D/6N	AED 3,499
Kazakhstan	7D/6N	AED 3,899
Europe	10D/9N	AED 5,999
Turkey	6D/5N	AED 3,299

See the full itineraries on UAE National Day packages, or message us on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001 or through our contact page and we will match a package to your dates.

Frequently asked questions

Is UAE National Day 2026 on 2 and 3 December?

Yes. Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026 are the dates on the UAE Government's public holidays list for the 55th National Day. A Cabinet transfer that shifts the days to extend the weekend, as happened for 2025, had not been announced as of 9 October 2026.

Will National Day 2026 be a long weekend?

Not automatically. The holiday itself is two days, Wednesday and Thursday. Residents on a Saturday–Sunday weekend can turn it into a five-day break by taking Friday 4 December as leave, and a longer break depends on whether the Cabinet issues a transfer resolution, which has not happened yet for 2026.

Do private-sector employees get paid extra for working on National Day?

If your employer asks you to work on 2 or 3 December, UAE Labour Law entitles you to either a replacement day off or your normal pay plus at least a 50% premium on your basic wage for that day, under Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.

Are schools closed for National Day 2026?

Yes. Schools following the Ministry of Education calendar are closed on 2 and 3 December 2026, and the winter break follows soon after, from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Do I need a visa to visit Georgia or Armenia from the UAE?

Often not. Both countries waive visas for most nationalities holding a valid, qualifying UAE residence permit, for up to 90 days in Georgia and 180 days in Armenia; otherwise you apply for an e-visa. See our Georgia and Armenia visa guides for the exact conditions for your passport.

How far ahead should I book a National Day trip?

As soon as your dates are fixed. Fares and hotel rates on these routes usually rise through late November, and visas for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey can take longer than Georgia or Armenia, so apply at least two weeks ahead.

Related guides

• Georgia trip from Dubai
• Armenia trip from Dubai
• Azerbaijan trip from Dubai
• Turkey trip from Dubai
• UAE public holidays 2027 and how to make nine-day breaks
• New Year holiday in the UAE

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the UAE Government portal (u.ae), the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation's labour law guidance, the Ministry of Education's 2026–27 academic calendar, and reporting from Gulf News and Khaleej Times on the 2025 National Day transfer. A Cabinet decision could still move the 2026 dates, and visa fees and school dates can change, so confirm before you book leave, flights or visas.