The UAE has seven official public holidays in 2027, totaling 12 days, or 13 if Ramadan runs a full 30 days. They come from Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and apply to the public and private sectors. Only New Year’s Day and Eid Al Etihad have fixed dates. The others follow the Hijri calendar, so the dates below are expected dates until the moon sighting confirms them.
UAE Public Holidays 2027: Full List
| Holiday | 2027 date | Days | Date status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January | 1 | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March (to Friday 12 March if Ramadan has 30 days) | 3 or 4 | Expected |
| Arafah Day | Saturday 15 May | 1 | Expected |
| Eid Al Adha | Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 May | 3 | Expected |
| Hijri New Year | Sunday 6 June | 1 | Expected |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Saturday 14 August | 1 | Expected |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | Thursday 2 to Friday 3 December | 2 | Fixed |
Expected dates use the Umm al-Qura calendar and match the dates published by UAE media. On a Saturday and Sunday weekend, four holiday days fall on the weekend in 2027: Arafah Day, the first day of Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday. Those days are not moved to a weekday.
2027 Leave Planner
Choose your weekend and the planner shows how many days off each extra leave day buys around every holiday, the exact dates to book, and which holidays you lose to the weekend.
The Best Long Weekends in 2027
For a Saturday and Sunday weekend, these are the strongest breaks:
- Eid Al Fitr (March): book Monday 8 and Friday 12 March for 9 days off, from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 March. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, Friday 12 March becomes a holiday and you need only Monday 8 March.
- Eid Al Adha (May): book Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May for 9 days off, from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May.
- Eid Al Etihad (November and December): book Monday 29 November to Wednesday 1 December for 9 days off, from Saturday 27 November to Sunday 5 December.
- New Year: 1 January falls on a Friday, which gives a 3-day weekend with no leave. Booking 28 to 31 December 2026 from your 2026 balance stretches it to 9 days.
The Rules That Decide Your Days Off
- The list: Article 1 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets the seven holidays for both sectors. Eid Al Fitr is 1 to 3 Shawwal, with 30 Ramadan added if Ramadan completes 30 days.
- Moving holidays: the Cabinet may move any holiday except the Eid holidays to the beginning or end of the week by resolution (Article 2). Watch for an announcement before each mid-week holiday.
- No day in lieu: a holiday that falls on the weekend, or on another holiday, is not transferred to another day (Article 3).
- Holidays inside annual leave: under Article 29(7) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, rest days that fall inside a period of annual leave count as part of that leave unless your contract or company policy is more generous. Book each run of leave days as a separate request so a holiday or weekend does not sit inside it.
- Local holidays: an emirate can declare extra holidays for its own government departments (Article 4). These do not automatically apply to private sector employers.
For what you are owed if you work on a public holiday and how holidays interact with your contract, read our guide to UAE public holidays and leave entitlement. To check your leave balance or its cash value, use the UAE leave salary calculator.
FAQ
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2027?
Seven holidays totaling 12 days, or 13 if Ramadan lasts 30 days. They are New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday and Eid Al Etihad, as listed in Article 1 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
Are the 2027 Islamic holiday dates confirmed?
No. Only 1 January and 2 to 3 December are fixed. Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday follow the Hijri calendar and are confirmed after the official moon sighting, so each can move by about a day.
Do I get a day off in lieu if a 2027 holiday falls on the weekend?
No. Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 says a public holiday cannot be transferred to another day if it falls on the weekend. With a Saturday and Sunday weekend, Arafah Day, the first day of Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday all fall on the weekend in 2027.
Do private sector employees get the same 2027 holidays?
Yes. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 applies the same official holidays to the public and private sectors. Extra holidays that an emirate announces for its own government departments under Article 4 do not automatically apply to private employers.
What is the best way to use annual leave around the 2027 holidays?
With a Saturday and Sunday weekend, 2 leave days around Eid Al Fitr and 3 leave days each around Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Etihad each give a 9-day break. Use the planner on this page to see the options for your own weekend.
Official Sources
- Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on Official Holidays for the Government and Private Sectors, Articles 1 to 4
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 Regulating Labour Relations, Article 29
- UAE Government portal: Public holidays
Disclaimer: Islamic holiday dates for 2027 are expected dates and depend on the official moon sighting. The Cabinet can also move some holidays by resolution. Confirm dates with official announcements and your employer before booking travel. This page is general information, not legal advice.