UAE public holidays to plan for in 2026

With several UAE public holidays still to come in 2026, agents can capitalise on booking opportunities to plan long weekends and extended trips for their clients. 

 

With eight official UAE holiday days remaining, many aligning with weekends, agents can maximise their clients’ time off using minimal amounts of their annual leave.

 

The next UAE holidays – Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha – fall in late May. Remaining holidays for the year include Hijri New Year, the Prophet’s birthday and UAE National Day. Here’s an overview of the booking windows to come. 

 

Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha: Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May 

Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are due to fall at the end of May. A six-day break is anticipated, starting Tuesday 26 May, subject to moon sightings. UAE residents working a typical Monday-to-Friday week will be able to book a nine-day holiday, from Saturday 23 to Sunday 31 May, just by adding one day, Monday 25 May, as annual leave. 

 

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Islamic New Year: Monday 15 June

The 2026 Islamic New Year is expected to fall on Tuesday 16 June, with the holiday likely to be observed on Monday 15 June, creating a three-day break. It is set to be the final public holiday before the start of schools’ summer holidays, with terms typically ending Friday 3 July.

 

The Prophet’s Birthday: Monday 24 August 

The Prophet’s birthday will be marked by a public holiday on Monday 24 August, giving residents a three-day weekend. With the summer season drawing to a close, the break could prompt a wave of last-minute getaways.

 

National Day: Wednesday 2 to Thursday 3 December

The final public holiday for 2026 will be UAE National Day, taking place from Wednesday to Thursday, there’s an opportunity to turn this into a five-day trip for clients able to book Friday as annual leave.