When is the next UAE public holiday in 2026?

If you’re back to work today and wondering when the next UAE public holiday is, then here’s what you need to know. The final long weekend of the year will fall on the occasion of Eid Al Etihad (previously called Union Day and UAE National Day), which takes place in December. The official date for Eid Al Etihad is Wednesday, December 2, with Thursday, December 3 also confirmed as a day off. But remember, November 30 is Commemoration Day (previously known as Martyrs’ Day), which falls on a Monday this year. The holiday was announced to commemorate the death of Salem Suhail Khamis, who died on the same date in 1971 and is thought to be the first Emirati killed in military service since the formation of the UAE that year. If the government approves this as a day off, we could enjoy a very long weekend if December 1 is declared a public holiday as well. Which means we could be looking at a six-day-long weekend (and maybe even longer if December 4 is added on). If you’re looking even further ahead, 2027’s public holiday dates are already laid out, and although the exact days off are dependent on the sighting of the moon, we do have a rough idea of all the extra days off we’ll get next year: *Dates are predictions based on astronomical calculations and the Islamic calendar. Official UAE public holiday dates for 2027 will be confirmed closer to each occasion following the sighting of the moon. Stay tuned to.ae for all the latest updates.