Rules as of 5 November 2026
The short answer
The UAE has 7 public holidays in 2027, worth 12 days off, or 13 if Ramadan lasts 30 days. They are the same for the public and private sectors, under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Only two holidays have fixed dates: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January) and National Day (Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December). The Islamic holidays follow the moon. As of 5 November 2026 the UAE has not published official 2027 dates for them, so the dates below are expected, not confirmed.
UAE public holidays 2027 at a glance
The holiday rules come from the UAE government portal (u.ae, page updated 29 October 2026). The Gregorian dates for the Islamic holidays are our estimate from the Umm al-Qura calendar, checked against 2027 new moon times from the US Naval Observatory. Each one can move by a day after the moon is sighted.
| Holiday | Rule (official) | 2027 date | Weekday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 January | 1 January | Friday | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus 30 Ramadan if Ramadan lasts 30 days | 9 to 11 March, or 9 to 12 March | Tuesday to Thursday, or Tuesday to Friday | Expected |
| Arafah Day | 9 Dhu Al Hijjah | 15 May | Saturday | Expected |
| Eid Al Adha | 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah | 16 to 18 May | Sunday to Tuesday | Expected |
| Hijri New Year | 1 Muharram 1449 | 6 June | Sunday | Expected |
| Prophet Mohammed's Birthday | 12 Rabi' Al Awwal 1449 | 14 August | Saturday | Expected |
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | 2 and 3 December | 2 and 3 December | Thursday and Friday | Fixed |
Ramadan 1448 is expected to start on Monday 8 February 2027 (same estimate method).
Why the Islamic dates can still move
Islamic holidays are set by moon sighting, as the u.ae page says. Two of the 2027 new moons come only a few hours before sunset in the UAE: 8 March at 13:29 and 6 May at 14:58 (UAE time, from US Naval Observatory data). A moon that young is hard to see, so a sighting committee may announce the month a day later than our estimate. If that happens:
- Eid Al Fitr: Ramadan runs 30 days, and day 30 is also a holiday. The break would then be Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March.
- Arafah and Eid Al Adha: each date moves one day later, to Sunday 16 May (Arafah) and Monday 17 to Wednesday 19 May (Eid).
The same can happen with the other months. Hijri New Year could fall on Monday 7 June (a working day), and the Prophet's Birthday on Sunday 15 August.
Treat every Islamic date as a planning estimate. The final days are confirmed close to each holiday, often only the evening before for Eid.
Holidays that fall on a weekend are not moved
Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, as quoted on u.ae, says a public holiday cannot be transferred to another day if it falls on the weekend or on another public holiday.
The federal government's weekend is Saturday and Sunday, and most private companies follow it. On that weekend, three 2027 holidays are expected to be "lost":
- Arafah Day (Saturday 15 May)
- Hijri New Year (Sunday 6 June)
- Prophet's Birthday (Saturday 14 August)
If your company's weekend is different, for example Friday only, your days off change too. The Labour Law gives every worker at least one paid rest day a week, set in the contract or company rules (Article 21).
The Cabinet can still move some holidays by a separate decision. It did this in 2025, when National Day was given to the private sector on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025, according to MOHRE.
Long weekends in 2027
Based on a Saturday–Sunday weekend and the expected dates above.
| Break | Days off | Length | Working days lost (Mon–Fri) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year | Fri 1 to Sun 3 January | 3 days | 1 | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr (Ramadan 30 days) | Tue 9 to Sun 14 March | 6 days | 4 | Expected |
| Eid Al Fitr (Ramadan 29 days) | Tue 9 to Thu 11 March, then Sat–Sun | 3 days + weekend | 3 | Expected. Friday 12 March is a working day, so 1 day of leave gives 6 days off |
| Arafah and Eid Al Adha | Sat 15 to Tue 18 May | 4 days | 2 | Expected. If moved a day: Sat 15 to Wed 19 May, 3 days lost |
| National Day | Thu 2 to Sun 5 December | 4 days | 2 | Fixed (unless the Cabinet moves it) |
Hijri New Year and the Prophet's Birthday are expected to land on a weekend, so they don't add a day off.
What it means for your staff
Paid days off. Under Article 28 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), private-sector workers get public holidays off with full pay. The holidays are the ones set by Cabinet resolution.
Staff who work on a holiday. If the job needs someone to work on a public holiday, Article 28 gives the employer two choices:
- give the worker another day off for each holiday day worked, or
- pay the normal wage for that day plus at least 50% of the basic wage for that day.
Example: a worker on a basic wage of AED 300 a day works on Eid. You either give a replacement day off, or pay the normal day's wage plus at least AED 150.
Ramadan hours. Normal working hours drop by 2 hours a day during Ramadan (Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022, Article 15). In 2027 that is expected from about 8 February to 8 or 9 March.
Watch MOHRE's announcement. MOHRE publishes a notice for the private sector before each holiday, as it did for New Year 2026 and National Day 2025. Use that notice as the final word for your rota.
Government offices, Free Zones and your renewals
The holiday list applies to the public sector as well, so government offices close. Plan as if your Free Zone authority, the immigration office and the medical-test centres are closed or slow over each holiday, and check your Free Zone's own notice. An online application you send during a holiday may not be processed until offices reopen.
Eid weeks are the risky ones. If your trade licence, a residence visa or an Emirates ID expires within about two weeks after Eid Al Fitr (around 9 March) or Eid Al Adha (around 16 May), start the renewal before the holiday. If the medical test or biometrics centre is closed for Eid, the whole renewal waits. We book these appointments for our clients ahead of each holiday: see PRO services.
Tax deadlines near the 2027 holidays
None of the regular VAT return deadlines in 2027 falls on an expected Islamic holiday. A few fall on a weekend:
| Deadline | Falls on | Moves to |
|---|---|---|
| VAT return due 28 February 2027 | Sunday | Monday 1 March |
| VAT return due 28 March 2027 | Sunday | Monday 29 March |
| VAT return due 28 August 2027 | Saturday | Monday 30 August |
| VAT return due 28 November 2027 | Sunday | Monday 29 November |
The Tax Procedures Law (Article 49) says that if the last day of a time period is not a business day, the period runs to the next business day. A business day excludes weekends and federal government holidays. The FTA's VAT Returns User Guide says the same, and adds that payment must reach the FTA by the deadline, so pay a few working days early.
Two big dates sit three weeks after Eid Al Fitr: Wednesday 31 March 2027 is the deadline to appoint an e-invoicing service provider if your revenue is below AED 50 million (Ministry of Finance guidelines, 26 October 2026). It is also the corporate tax registration deadline for individuals whose 2026 business turnover went above AED 1 million (FTA). Ramadan hours and the Eid break leave fewer working days in March than you think, so start in February. See corporate tax in the UAE and VAT registration.
What this means for you
- Put the fixed dates in your calendar now: 1 January, and 2 to 3 December 2027.
- Pencil in the Eid weeks (9 to 12 March, 15 to 19 May) and confirm them when MOHRE announces.
- Decide your holiday-work policy now: replacement day off or holiday pay of at least 50% extra on the basic wage. Put it in writing.
- Plan reduced Ramadan hours from about 8 February.
- Move licence, visa and Emirates ID renewals that expire near Eid to before the holiday.
- File VAT returns and pay before a weekend or holiday deadline. Leave time for the bank transfer to arrive.
How to use this list for your business: a checklist
- January: share the 2027 holiday list with your team and agree who covers each Eid.
- Before Ramadan (early February): set Ramadan working hours and update customer-facing opening times.
- February: file anything due in March early: any VAT return due 1 March, e-invoicing provider selection, CT registration if you trade as an individual.
- Two weeks before each Eid: check every licence, visa and Emirates ID that expires within a month and start renewals.
- After each holiday: record replacement days off or holiday pay in payroll, so the WPS salary run is right.
- October: check MOHRE's National Day notice, in case the Cabinet moves the days.
Frequently asked questions
Has the UAE announced the official 2027 public holidays? Not as of 5 November 2026. The list of holidays is fixed by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, and the u.ae page (updated 29 October 2026) gives the rules, but it does not give Gregorian dates for the 2027 Islamic holidays. We will update this page when official dates are published.
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027? Seven holidays, worth 12 days off, or 13 if Ramadan lasts 30 days. On a Saturday–Sunday weekend and our expected dates, 8 or 9 of those days fall Monday to Friday. A date that moves can add one more.
Are private-sector holidays the same as government holidays? Yes. The u.ae list applies to both the public and private sectors. For the exact days, follow the notice MOHRE publishes for the private sector before each holiday.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, do we get Monday off? No. Under Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, a holiday that falls on the weekend is not moved to another day. The Cabinet can decide to move a holiday separately, and MOHRE would announce it.
Can my employer ask me to work on Eid? Yes, if the work requires it. The employer must then give you another day off for each holiday day worked, or pay your normal wage for that day plus at least 50% of your basic wage (Labour Law, Article 28).
Does a tax deadline move if it falls on a holiday? Yes. Under Article 49 of the Tax Procedures Law it moves to the next business day. Your payment still has to reach the FTA by that day.
This guide is general information based on official sources, reviewed by the 800 Business team. Islamic holiday dates are estimates until the UAE confirms them after moon sighting. It is not legal advice. For your own staff contracts, speak to us or an employment lawyer.
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Also useful: PRO services in Dubai · residence visa through your company · accounting services in Dubai · corporate tax in the UAE
Sources
All sources checked on 5 November 2026.
- UAE Government portal, Public holidays (updated 29 October 2026): the 7 holidays and their Hijri rules, day 30 of Ramadan, moon sighting, public and private sectors, Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 (no transfer when a holiday falls on the weekend)
- UAE Legislation, Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on Public Holidays: legal basis (the site blocked automated reading; the wording we rely on is the extract quoted on u.ae)
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its amendments, with Cabinet Resolution No. 1 of 2022: Article 21 (weekly rest day), Article 28 (full pay on holidays; replacement day or wage plus at least 50% of basic wage), Resolution Article 15 (2 hours less a day in Ramadan)
- MOHRE, 54th Eid Al Etihad: 1 and 2 December 2025 declared official holiday for the private sector (17 November 2025): example of a holiday moved by Cabinet decision and announced by MOHRE
- MOHRE, Thursday 1 January 2026 announced as a paid public holiday for the private sector: MOHRE notices for each holiday
- UAE Government portal, Working hours in the public sector and WAM, UAE Government announces four and a half day working week: Saturday–Sunday federal weekend
- US Naval Observatory, Moon phases 2027: new moon times (8 March 09:29 UT, 6 May 10:58 UT, 4 June 19:40 UT, 2 August 10:05 UT), used for the "could move a day" notes
- Umm al-Qura calendar, converted with the open-source hijridate library: expected Gregorian dates for 1 Ramadan, 1 Shawwal, 9–12 Dhu Al Hijjah 1448, 1 Muharram and 12 Rabi' Al Awwal 1449. An estimate, not a UAE announcement
- Federal Tax Authority, Federal Decree-Law No. 28 of 2022 on Tax Procedures, consolidated: "Business Day" definition and Article 49 (deadline moves to the next business day)
- Federal Tax Authority, VAT Returns User Guide: 28-day deadline, weekend/holiday extension, payment must be received by the deadline
- Ministry of Finance, UAE Electronic Invoicing Guidelines V2.0 (26 October 2026): provider appointment by 31 March 2027 for revenue below AED 50 million
- Federal Tax Authority, FTA urges natural persons to register for Corporate Tax (28 January 2025) and FTA Decision No. 3 of 2024: AED 1 million turnover, registration by 31 March of the following year
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