UAE Public Holidays 2027: Expected Dates and Long Weekends

UAE public holidays 2027: the short answer

The UAE's 2027 public-holiday calendar combines fixed Gregorian dates with Islamic dates that remain **tentative until officially confirmed**. New Year's Day falls on Friday 1 January. Eid Al Fitr is currently expected around Tuesday 9 March, while Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are expected from Saturday 15 May to Tuesday 18 May. Eid Al Etihad falls on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December.

The UAE Government states that public holidays apply to both the public and private sectors. Islamic occasions are confirmed through moon sighting, so residents should not book a non-refundable trip solely from an estimated Gregorian date.

| Occasion | Expected 2027 date or window | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gregorian New Year | Friday 1 January | Fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March; Monday 8 March may be added if Ramadan completes 30 days | Tentative |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May | Tentative |
| Hijri New Year | Sunday 6 June | Tentative |
| Prophet Mohammed's birthday | Saturday 14 August | Tentative |
| Eid Al Etihad | Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December | Fixed dates |

What is officially fixed and what is still forecast

Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 defines the holiday entitlement by Gregorian or Hijri date. It does not permanently lock Islamic holidays to a Gregorian date years in advance.

For Eid Al Fitr, the resolution provides holidays from 1 to 3 Shawwal and adds 30 Ramadan when Ramadan completes 30 days. Arafah Day is 9 Dhu Al Hijjah, followed by Eid Al Adha from 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah. Hijri New Year is 1 Muharram, and the Prophet's birthday is 12 Rabi Al Awwal.

The expected March, May, June and August dates in this guide are calendar forecasts reported by UAE publications using UAE Astronomy Centre calculations. They are planning markers, not final government announcements. The competent UAE authorities confirm Islamic occasions closer to the date after the relevant crescent-sighting process.

New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027

New Year's Day is a one-day public holiday and falls on Friday in 2027. With the UAE's standard Saturday-Sunday weekend, many five-day workers can expect a three-day break from Friday 1 January through Sunday 3 January.

Shift workers, hospitality staff, aviation employees and people on alternative schedules should check their roster. A public holiday does not mean every workplace or public-facing service closes.

Eid Al Fitr: expected in March 2027

Eid Al Fitr is currently expected to begin on Tuesday 9 March 2027. On that forecast, the core 1-3 Shawwal holiday would run from Tuesday 9 March through Thursday 11 March.

If Ramadan completes 30 days, Monday 8 March would be the additional holiday for 30 Ramadan. That scenario could create six consecutive calendar days away from work for many Monday-Friday employees when combined with the preceding Saturday-Sunday weekend.

If the additional Monday is not declared, taking annual leave on Monday 8 March could connect the weekend to the expected Tuesday-Thursday holiday. Do not submit irreversible travel arrangements until the UAE announcement confirms the start of Shawwal and the exact work holiday.

Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: expected 15-18 May 2027

Arafah Day is expected on Saturday 15 May, followed by the three Eid Al Adha holidays from Sunday 16 May to Tuesday 18 May. That produces an expected four-day calendar window from Saturday through Tuesday.

Saturday and Sunday are already weekend days for many UAE employees, and the official government guidance says a holiday is not transferred merely because it falls on a weekend or another public holiday. For a standard five-day worker, the expected additional weekdays away from work would therefore be Monday and Tuesday. The Gregorian dates can still move with the Dhu Al Hijjah moon-sighting decision.

Travellers planning Hajj or family visits should treat airline and hotel flexibility as more valuable than a headline estimate. Entry rules, pilgrimage arrangements and school schedules are separate from the public-holiday entitlement.

Hijri New Year: expected Sunday 6 June 2027

The Islamic New Year holiday is one day on 1 Muharram and is currently expected on Sunday 6 June. Because Sunday is part of the usual UAE weekend, it may not create an additional weekday off for many employees.

The date remains subject to confirmation. Do not assume a substitute Monday: the UAE Government notes that a public holiday cannot be transferred simply because it coincides with a weekend or another public holiday.

Prophet Mohammed's birthday: expected Saturday 14 August 2027

The Prophet Mohammed's birthday holiday is one day on 12 Rabi Al Awwal and is currently expected on Saturday 14 August. For many five-day employees this falls entirely within the standard weekend.

As with other Hijri dates, the final Gregorian date depends on the officially recognised lunar calendar. Employer notices and government announcements closer to August should be treated as the controlling information.

Eid Al Etihad: Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December 2027

The UAE's National Day holiday, officially called Eid Al Etihad, is fixed on 2 and 3 December. In 2027 those dates fall on Thursday and Friday.

Together with the Saturday-Sunday weekend, this creates a likely four-day break from Thursday 2 December through Sunday 5 December for people who normally work Monday to Friday. Events, road closures, public-transport hours and attraction schedules are announced separately, so check local authority information before travelling within the UAE.

Likely long weekends at a glance

| Window | Likely length for a standard Monday-Friday worker | Important condition |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-3 January | 3 days | New Year's Day is Friday |
| 6-11 March | Up to 6 days | Requires 30 Ramadan to be added on Monday 8 March; otherwise annual leave on Monday can bridge the dates |
| 15-18 May | 4 calendar days | Saturday-Sunday overlap with the normal weekend |
| 2-5 December | 4 days | Fixed Thursday-Friday holiday followed by weekend |

These are calendar combinations, not guarantees about every employee's roster. A six-day Eid Al Fitr break depends on the confirmed lunar month and the final holiday notice.

UAE-specific employment and planning considerations

The federal holiday list applies to the public and private sectors, but working arrangements vary. Employees required to work on a public holiday should refer to the UAE Labour Relations Law, their contract and their employer's HR policy for the applicable compensation or substitute rest arrangements.

Free-zone employers may issue their own operational notices while following the applicable employment framework. Schools publish academic calendars separately, and a public holiday can affect a school day differently when it overlaps with an existing term break.

Airlines, hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals and emergency services can remain operational. Government service centres, banks, delivery services and public transport may use amended hours. Confirm the relevant organisation's official notice rather than relying on a general holiday calendar.

Practical 2027 holiday-planning checklist

- Mark fixed dates and tentative Islamic dates differently in your calendar.
- Use refundable or changeable travel bookings for forecast Eid dates.
- Wait for the UAE's official moon-sighting announcement before treating an Islamic date as final.
- Check your employer's roster, HR circular and weekend pattern.
- Do not assume a weekday replacement when a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday.
- Review school calendars separately from employment holidays.
- Check passport validity, visa rules and travel insurance before booking.
- Reconfirm airline schedules and airport guidance close to departure.
- Check local transport, parking and road-closure notices for major celebrations.
- Keep one annual-leave day available if you plan to bridge an expected holiday window.

Bottom line

The strongest 2027 planning windows are New Year's Day from 1-3 January, the expected Eid Al Fitr period in early March, the expected Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha window from 15-18 May, and Eid Al Etihad from 2-5 December.

Only the Gregorian dates are fixed this far ahead. Treat every Islamic date as an estimate, distinguish calendar days from extra working days off, and wait for official UAE confirmation before committing to plans that cannot be changed.