UAE Public Holidays 2027: Expected Dates and How to Make Nine-Day Breaks

The short answer: the UAE's 2027 public holidays are expected to be New Year's Day on Friday 1 January, Eid Al Fitr around 9–10 March, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha around 15–18 May, the Hijri New Year around 6 June, the Prophet's Birthday around 14 August and National Day on 2–3 December. With the Saturday–Sunday weekend, that gives four long weekends, and two of them stretch to nine days with three days of leave. The Islamic dates depend on the moon and can move by a day.

The UAE Cabinet had not published the official 2027 list when we checked on 8 October 2026. The dates below follow the rules in Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which sets the holidays for both the public and private sectors, and the expected Hijri calendar. We will update this page when the Cabinet confirms them.

UAE public holidays 2027 at a glance

Holiday	Expected date	Break with the weekend
New Year's Day	Friday 1 January	Fri 1 – Sun 3 January (3 days)
Eid Al Fitr	Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March	Tue 9 – Sun 14 March at most (up to 6 days)
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha	Saturday 15 May (Arafah), Sunday 16 – Tuesday 18 May (Eid)	Sat 15 – Tue 18 May (4 days)
Hijri New Year	Sunday 6 June	Falls on the weekend
Prophet's Birthday	Saturday 14 August	Falls on the weekend
National Day	Thursday 2 – Friday 3 December	Thu 2 – Sun 5 December (4 days)

How UAE public holidays work

• One list for everyone. Since Resolution No. 27 of 2024, government and private-sector employees get the same public holidays.
• The Cabinet can move some holidays to the start or end of the week. This does not apply to Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day or Eid Al Adha, which stay on their Hijri dates.
• No day in lieu. A holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is not given back on a weekday. That is why the Hijri New Year and the Prophet's Birthday add nothing in 2027.
• The moon decides the Eids. Eid Al Fitr is 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus 30 Ramadan if Ramadan runs to 30 days. The exact dates are announced only after the moon is sighted, a day or two before.

The long weekends, holiday by holiday

New Year: Friday 1 – Sunday 3 January

A three-day weekend to start the year. Good for a short city break: Muscat, Doha or a staycation at home.

Eid Al Fitr: around Tuesday 9 – Sunday 14 March

If Ramadan lasts 30 days, the holiday is expected to run from Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March, then the weekend: six days off. If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid falls on Tuesday 9, the holiday runs to Thursday 11, and Friday 12 is a working day. To make nine days, take Monday 8 March off (and Friday 12 if needed) for a break from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 March.

Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: Saturday 15 – Tuesday 18 May

Four days with the weekend. To make nine days, take Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May off for a break from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May. This is the best long break of 2027 for a trip further away, and fares rise fast once the dates are confirmed.

Hijri New Year and the Prophet's Birthday

Both are expected on weekend days in 2027, around Sunday 6 June and Saturday 14 August, so they do not add a day off unless the Cabinet decides otherwise.

National Day: Thursday 2 – Sunday 5 December

Four days. To make nine days, take Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December off for a break from Saturday 27 November to Sunday 5 December. December weather is the best of the year at home too, so a National Day package in the UAE is just as good as flying out.

Before 2027: National Day 2026

This year's National Day holiday falls on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. Take Friday 4 December off and you have five days, from Wednesday to Sunday 6 December. If you are planning a trip for it, book now.

Where to go for each length of break

Break	Ideas from the UAE
3 days	Muscat or Musandam by road, Doha, a Dubai staycation
4–6 days	Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cairo, Istanbul
9 days	Thailand, Bali, Japan, Europe with a Schengen visa, the UK

Check visas first, because they set the lead time: a Schengen or UK visa can take weeks to get an appointment, while Armenia, Oman and Qatar can be sorted in days. Our guides cover the details:

• Oman visa for UAE residents and Dubai to Oman by bus or car
• Qatar visa for UAE residents
• Armenia visa for UAE residents and Georgia visa from Dubai
• Thailand visa for UAE residents
• Schengen visa for UAE residents

Booking tips for UAE long weekends

• Book early, but flexibly. Eid dates can move by a day, so choose fares you can change, or plan a trip that works either way.
• Avoid the first evening. Flights on the first evening of a long weekend are usually the dearest; leaving a day earlier or coming back a day later often costs less.
• Check your passport and residence validity. Many countries want six months on your passport, and some, like Armenia, six months on your UAE residence.
• Agree leave early. In most offices, leave around the Eids and National Day goes to whoever asks first.

Frequently asked questions

Has the UAE announced the 2027 public holidays?

Not as of 8 October 2026. The dates on this page are expected dates based on Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and the Hijri calendar. We will update them when the Cabinet publishes the official list.

When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?

Around Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027, depending on the moon sighting. The holiday is expected to run from 9 March until the weekend of 13–14 March.

When is Eid Al Adha 2027 in the UAE?

Around Sunday 16 May 2027, with Arafah Day on Saturday 15 May. The holiday is expected to run from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May.

How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?

The same holidays as every year: New Year's Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, the Hijri New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and National Day: 12 or 13 days, depending on the length of Ramadan. Two of them fall on the weekend in 2027.

Do private-sector employees get the same holidays?

Yes. Since 2024 the public and private sectors in the UAE follow the same official holiday list.

If a holiday falls on a weekend, do I get another day off?

No. The UAE does not give a replacement day for a public holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

When is the longest break in 2027?

Eid Al Adha. With three days of leave, from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May, you get nine days off, from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May. National Day gives the same with leave from 29 November to 1 December.

Plan your 2027 long weekends

Tell us the dates you have, how many people are travelling and their passports, and we will suggest trips that fit, with flights, hotels and visas arranged. Browse our holiday packages or contact us.

Last checked 8 October 2026. The 2027 dates are expected dates, not the Cabinet's official list, and the Islamic holidays depend on the moon sighting. Confirm with your employer before booking leave.