Short answer: The UAE is expected to get 13 public holiday days in 2027 across six holidays — New Year’s Day (Fri 1 January), Eid Al Fitr (Tue 9 – Fri 12 March), Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha (Sat 15 – Tue 18 May), Islamic New Year (Sun 6 June), the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday (Sat 14 August) and Eid Al Etihad (Thu 2 – Fri 3 December). Two of the fixed dates are locked in. The Islamic dates move with the moon and can shift by a day.
So that is the calendar. However, here is the part most people miss: booked properly, 10 days of annual leave in 2027 turns into 33 consecutive days off. We have done the maths below.
UAE Public Holidays 2027: The Full List
| Holiday | Expected Dates | Days | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January | 1 | Fixed |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 – Friday 12 March | 4 | Moon sighting |
| Arafah Day & Eid Al Adha | Saturday 15 – Tuesday 18 May | 4 | Moon sighting |
| Islamic (Hijri) New Year | Sunday 6 June | 1 | Moon sighting |
| Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday | Saturday 14 August | 1 | Moon sighting |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | Thursday 2 – Friday 3 December | 2 | Fixed |
The Leave Hack: 10 Days Off Becomes 33
First, remember that the UAE private-sector weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Then line your annual leave up against these four windows, and you get 33 days away from your desk for 10 days off your balance.
1. New Year: 5 Leave Days → 10 Days Off
The holiday runs Friday 1 January into the weekend (2–3 January). Book Monday 4 to Friday 8 January and you are off from 1 January to Sunday 10 January. Ten straight days to start the year, and the cheapest flight window of the quarter once the New Year rush clears. If you want somewhere you can fly to without paperwork, our guide to visa-free escapes for UAE residents is a good place to start.
2. Eid Al Fitr: 1 Leave Day → 9 Days Off
In short, this is the single best-value leave day of 2027. Forecasters expect Eid Al Fitr to fall Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March, with the weekend of 6–7 March sitting right in front of it. Book Monday 8 March only and you are off from Saturday 6 March to Sunday 14 March — nine days for one leave day.
Also, if Ramadan runs a full 30 days, the break can stretch further. Therefore, watch the moon-sighting announcement before you commit to non-refundable flights.
3. Eid Al Adha: 3 Leave Days → 9 Days Off
Meanwhile, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha should land Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May. Book Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 May and the break runs 15 May to Sunday 23 May.
4. Eid Al Etihad: 1 Leave Day → 5 Days Off
Finally, National Day lands Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December, rolling into the weekend for a four-day break to 5 December. Add Wednesday 1 December and you get five days — right as Dubai’s winter season opens — prime time for Dubai’s best rooftop bars.
Every Long Weekend in 2027
- 1–3 January — three days (New Year’s Day falls on a Friday)
- 6–14 March — up to nine days around Eid Al Fitr with one leave day
- 15–18 May — four days for Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha
- 5–7 June — three days if the Islamic New Year holiday holds on Sunday 6 June
- 13–15 August — three days around the Prophet’s Birthday on Saturday 14 August
- 2–5 December — four days for Eid Al Etihad
The Catch Nobody Mentions
Two of 2027’s holidays fall on the weekend. Unfortunately, the Islamic New Year lands on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet’s Birthday on Saturday 14 August. Unless the Cabinet moves them, the weekend simply swallows those days, and as a result you lose two days off compared to a better-aligned year.
Under UAE law, nobody can shift Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. However, the Cabinet can move other holidays to the start or end of the week — which is exactly how recent long weekends have been extended, sometimes with only days of notice.
Public Sector vs Private Sector
Since the UAE unified its holiday calendar, public and private sector employees receive the same public holidays. However, the working week still differs: federal government staff work Monday to Thursday with a half day on Friday, while most private companies run Monday to Friday with Saturday and Sunday off. The leave maths above assumes a Saturday–Sunday weekend.
How These Dates Get Confirmed
Federal decree sets the two fixed-date holidays — New Year’s Day and Eid Al Etihad — so they never change. Islamic holidays, on the other hand, follow the Hijri calendar, and the UAE moon-sighting committee confirms them only a day or two beforehand. In other words, every 2027 Islamic date on this page is an astronomical projection, not an official announcement. Treat them as planning dates — and refundable-fare dates — until the Cabinet confirms. Official announcements are published by the UAE Government on u.ae.
FAQs
How Many Public Holidays Does The UAE Have In 2027?
Thirteen days across six holidays, based on expected dates. Two of those days fall on a weekend, so the practical gain is around 11 working days off.
When Is Eid Al Fitr 2027 In The UAE?
Eid Al Fitr 2027 should run from Tuesday 9 March to Friday 12 March, although the moon sighting decides the final dates. Dates may shift by about a day.
When Is Eid Al Adha 2027 In The UAE?
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha should run from Saturday 15 May to Tuesday 18 May 2027, although the moon sighting decides the final dates.
When Is Eid Al Etihad 2027?
Eid Al Etihad, the UAE National Day holiday, falls on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December 2027 — a fixed date creating a four-day weekend to Sunday 5 December.
What Is The Longest Break In The UAE In 2027?
Eid Al Fitr. With one leave day booked on Monday 8 March, the break runs from Saturday 6 March to Sunday 14 March — nine consecutive days.
Are UAE Public Holidays The Same For Private And Government Employees?
Yes. The UAE unified its public holiday calendar, so both sectors get the same days. Working weeks differ, which changes how the long weekends line up.
The Bottom Line
Overall, 2027 is not the most generous holiday year the UAE has had, because two days vanish into the weekend. However, the March window is unusually good value, and the January and May stretches are long enough for a proper trip. Annual leave calendars at most UAE companies open in Q4. The people who get the good dates are the ones who ask first. And while you are getting your admin in order, here is how to wipe black points off your UAE licence.
Dubai Secret will update this page the moment the UAE Cabinet confirms each holiday. Bookmark it.
