Latest update — 13 August 2026: UAE outlets have published the full 2027 holiday outlook, and the UAE Government Media Office has declared Friday 28 August 2026 a paid holiday for the public and private sectors for the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi) — a three-day weekend, 28–30 August. Islamic dates for 2027 remain expected until the moon-sighting committee confirms each one; this page marks every date as fixed or expected accordingly.
The UAE's public holidays are not re-invented each year: the recurring calendar is fixed by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which sets the same paid holidays for the public and private sectors. That means the 2027 holiday set is already known today — what moves is the Gregorian date of each Islamic holiday, confirmed by moon sighting shortly before the day. This guide lists every 2027 holiday with its status, the long-weekend arithmetic on the UAE's Saturday–Sunday weekend, and what is still left of 2026.
UAE Public Holidays 2027 — At a Glance
| Holiday | 2027 date | Status | Break on a Sat–Sun weekend |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | Fixed | 3 days (Fri 1 – Sun 3 Jan) |
| Eid Al Fitr (29 Ramadan – 3 Shawwal) | Tue 9 – Thu 11 March, or Tue 9 – Fri 12 March if Ramadan runs 30 days | Expected | Up to 6 days (Tue 9 – Sun 14 Mar) in the 30-day case |
| Arafah Day + Eid Al Adha (9–12 Dhu Al Hijjah) | Sat 15 – Tue 18 May | Expected | 4 days (Sat 15 – Tue 18 May) |
| Hijri New Year (1 Muharram) | Sunday 6 June | Expected | Falls on the weekend — watch for a transfer decision |
| Prophet's Birthday (12 Rabi Al Awwal) | Saturday 14 August | Expected | Falls on the weekend — watch for a transfer decision |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | Thursday 2 – Friday 3 December | Fixed | 4 days (Thu 2 – Sun 5 Dec) |
That is 12 or 13 paid holiday days in 2027, depending on whether Ramadan runs 29 or 30 days. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around Monday 8 February.
Still to Come in 2026
| Holiday | Date | Break |
|---|---|---|
| Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi) | Friday 28 August 2026 — announced for public and private sectors | 3 days (Fri 28 – Sun 30 Aug) |
| Eid Al Etihad (55th) | Wednesday 2 – Thursday 3 December 2026 | Take Friday 4 Dec as leave for 5 days (Wed 2 – Sun 6 Dec) |
The 28 August announcement is also the transfer rule working as designed: 12 Rabi Al Awwal fell mid-week, and the Cabinet placed the observed holiday on a Friday so the country gets a full three-day weekend.
How UAE Holiday Law Works
Three rules from Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 explain most of what surprises people:
- One list for everyone. Public and private sector employees get the same paid holidays. An employer can add days, but cannot subtract them — public holidays are paid days off in addition to the annual leave covered in our leave entitlements guide.
- Holidays can be moved — except the Eids. The Cabinet may transfer a holiday to the start or end of the week to create a longer break. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are exempt: they are observed on their Hijri dates wherever those land. The Friday placement of Mawlid 2026 is a live example of the rule in action.
- Islamic dates are confirmed late by design. Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet's Birthday follow the lunar calendar; the official date lands with the moon-sighting committee's announcement, usually the evening before. Astronomical projections (used on this page) are reliable to within a day, so treat March and May travel bookings accordingly.
One local nuance: Sharjah's government sector works a four-day week with a Friday–Sunday weekend, so break arithmetic there differs — the holiday list itself is the same.
Long-Weekend Planner for 2027
With the standard Saturday–Sunday weekend, here is where paid leave buys the most consecutive days off in 2027:
| Break | Leave days used | Consecutive days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year (Fri 1 – Sun 3 Jan) | 0 | 3 |
| Eid Al Fitr, 30-day Ramadan case (Tue 9 – Sun 14 Mar) | 0 | 6 |
| Eid Al Fitr stretched (Sat 6 – Sun 14 Mar) | 1 (Mon 8 Mar) | 9 |
| Eid Al Adha (Sat 15 – Tue 18 May) | 0 | 4 |
| Eid Al Adha stretched (Sat 15 – Sun 23 May) | 3 (Wed 19 – Fri 21 May) | 9 |
| Eid Al Etihad (Thu 2 – Sun 5 Dec) | 0 | 4 |
| Eid Al Etihad stretched (Wed 1 – Sun 5 Dec) | 1 (Wed 1 Dec) | 5 |
The March window is the one to protect in your leave budget: if Ramadan completes 30 days, a single leave day turns Eid Al Fitr into nine consecutive days off. The two weekend-falling holidays (Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June, Prophet's Birthday on Saturday 14 August) are the wild cards — if the Cabinet transfers either into the working week, an extra long weekend appears; announcements typically come days, not months, ahead. Long weekends fill up fast — our kids' activities guide covers the staycation side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Friday 28 August 2026 a holiday for the private sector?
Yes. The UAE Government Media Office announcement covers both the federal public sector and the private sector: a paid holiday for the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi), creating a three-day weekend from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026.
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?
12 or 13 paid days: New Year (1), Eid Al Fitr (3 or 4, depending on whether Ramadan runs 29 or 30 days), Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha (4), Hijri New Year (1), the Prophet's Birthday (1), and Eid Al Etihad (2).
Are the 2027 Eid dates confirmed?
Not yet — and they will not be until the moon-sighting committee announces each one, usually the evening before. The projections (Eid Al Fitr around 9–12 March, Eid Al Adha around 15–18 May) are astronomical estimates, reliable to within about a day. The Gregorian-fixed holidays — 1 January and 2–3 December — are certain now.
When does Ramadan 2027 start?
Around Monday 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting. Working hours are reduced by two hours a day during Ramadan for private-sector employees.
Can the UAE move a public holiday to a different day?
Yes — under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 the Cabinet may transfer a holiday to the beginning or end of the week, except Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, which stay on their Hijri dates. The 2026 Prophet's Birthday holiday landing on a Friday (28 August) is a recent example.
Do private-sector employees get the same holidays as government employees?
Yes. Since the unified holiday calendar, the official list applies to both sectors, and holidays are paid. Employers may grant additional days but cannot reduce the official ones. Public holidays are separate from — and additional to — your 30-day annual leave entitlement.
Related reading: annual leave, sick leave and public holiday rules, things to do with kids in the UAE, and the wider UAE expat guide.
