UAE Public Holidays 2027: Expected Dates and the Long Weekends to Plan For
By Thasmiya
UAE residents can already start looking ahead to the **2027 public holiday calendar**, with several potential long breaks expected across the year.
From New Year’s Day and Eid Al Fitr to Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Etihad, the UAE’s official holiday framework applies to both public and private-sector employees. However, most Islamic holiday dates for 2027 remain **tentative and subject to moon sighting**, meaning final dates will be confirmed closer to each occasion. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
For anyone planning annual leave or travel, here are the dates currently worth watching.
## **UAE public holidays expected in 2027**
Under the UAE Government’s current public holiday framework, employees are entitled to holidays for:
- January 1 – Gregorian New Year - Eid Al Fitr – 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus Ramadan 30 if Ramadan lasts 30 days - Arafah Day – 9 Dhul Hijjah - Eid Al Adha – 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah - Islamic New Year – 1 Muharram - Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday – 12 Rabi’ Al Awwal - Eid Al Etihad – December 2 and 3
These holidays apply to both the UAE public and private sectors. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **January 1: New Year’s Day**
**Expected date: Friday, January 1, 2027**
The year starts particularly well for employees who normally work Monday to Friday.
January 1 falls on a **Friday**, immediately before the regular Saturday-Sunday weekend for many UAE workers.
That could create a straightforward **three-day weekend from Friday, January 1 to Sunday, January 3** without using annual leave. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Eid Al Fitr: March 2027**
Eid Al Fitr is expected around **March 9–12**, although different astronomical calendars currently vary slightly on the exact Gregorian dates. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The UAE Government specifies that the official Eid Al Fitr holiday runs from **1 to 3 Shawwal**.
There is also an important extra rule: if Ramadan completes 30 days, **Ramadan 30 becomes an additional official holiday**, potentially creating four official days off. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
This means Eid Al Fitr could become one of the first significant travel opportunities of 2027.
The exact break cannot be confirmed until the end of Ramadan approaches and the UAE announces the result of the Shawwal crescent sighting.
## **Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: May 2027**
The next major holiday period is expected in the middle of May.
Current astronomical estimates place:
**Arafah Day:** around Saturday, May 15 or Sunday, May 16 **Eid Al Adha:** approximately Sunday/Monday, May 16/17 through Tuesday, May 18
The UAE’s official framework provides **one day for Arafah Day followed by three days for Eid Al Adha**, creating four consecutive official holiday days. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Depending on the final moon-sighting dates and an employee’s normal weekend, this could produce one of 2027’s longest natural breaks.
For UAE residents considering an international holiday in 2027, this is one of the periods worth monitoring closely.
## **Islamic New Year: June 2027**
**Expected date: Sunday, June 6, 2027**
The Islamic New Year, or Hijri New Year, is observed on **1 Muharram** and carries one official public holiday. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Current calendars estimate that it will fall around Sunday, June 6. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
If that prediction holds, it would overlap with the normal weekend for many employees rather than automatically creating an additional weekday off.
Importantly, current UAE Government guidance says a public holiday **cannot simply be transferred because it falls on a weekend or coincides with another public holiday**. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday: August 2027**
The Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday is expected around **August 14–15, 2027**, although the precise date remains subject to the Islamic calendar and official confirmation.
Current estimates differ slightly, with some calendars placing it on Saturday, August 14 and others on Sunday, August 15. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The UAE observes the occasion on **12 Rabi’ Al Awwal**. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
If it ultimately falls on the Saturday-Sunday weekend, employees should not automatically assume another weekday will be granted in its place. Any arrangements should be based on the official UAE announcement.
## **Eid Al Etihad: December 2 and 3**
**Dates: Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3, 2027**
One of the most attractive breaks on the 2027 calendar comes at the end of the year.
The UAE’s national celebration, Eid Al Etihad, carries two official public holidays on **December 2 and 3**. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
In 2027, December 2 falls on Thursday and December 3 on Friday.
For employees with a Saturday-Sunday weekend, that naturally connects to create a potential **four-day break from Thursday, December 2 through Sunday, December 5**.
No annual leave would be required for employees following the standard Monday-Friday working week.
## **What are the best potential long weekends in 2027?**
Based on the calendar as it currently stands, three periods are particularly interesting.
**New Year:** January 1–3 could produce a three-day weekend.
**Eid Al Adha:** the four-day religious holiday could connect favourably with the weekend depending on the final lunar dates.
**Eid Al Etihad:** December 2–5 could naturally produce a four-day weekend for many employees.
Eid Al Fitr may also provide a substantial break, particularly if Ramadan lasts 30 days and the additional Ramadan 30 holiday applies.
## **Can UAE public holidays be moved to create long weekends?**
Residents should be careful with assumptions about transferred holidays.
The UAE Government’s current public holiday page states that under **Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024**, a public holiday cannot be transferred to another day when it coincides with another public holiday or falls on the weekend. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
This is particularly relevant when planning around Islamic New Year or the Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday in 2027, since current estimates place both close to weekends.
Official announcements should therefore be treated as definitive.
## **Are public and private-sector holidays the same?**
The UAE’s official holiday list applies to **both public and private-sector employees**. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
However, the practical length of a break can still vary depending on an employee’s normal work schedule.
People working in hospitality, retail, healthcare, aviation, transport, security and other industries may also be rostered during public holidays and should check arrangements with their employer.
## **Why Islamic holiday dates can change**
Unlike January 1 and December 2–3, Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar.
Dates including:
- Eid Al Fitr - Arafah Day - Eid Al Adha - Islamic New Year - Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
are therefore linked to Islamic calendar dates, and the UAE Government notes that Islamic holidays are determined according to **moon sighting**. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Astronomical calculations can predict the likely dates months or years in advance, but official announcements closer to the occasion determine the actual UAE holiday.
This is why travellers should avoid booking expensive non-refundable trips solely on the basis of an estimated 2027 calendar.
## **How to turn the 2027 holidays into longer breaks**
Employees who plan their annual leave strategically may be able to extend some of these public holidays considerably.
For example, taking a few annual-leave days around Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha could create a much longer overseas travel window.
Eid Al Etihad is particularly attractive because the expected Thursday-Friday holidays already connect directly to Saturday and Sunday for many workers.
Travellers should still wait for official confirmation before making plans around Islamic holidays.
## **Which 2027 dates are already fixed?**
Two periods can be planned with considerably more certainty.
**January 1** is the official Gregorian New Year holiday.
**December 2 and 3** are the UAE’s official Eid Al Etihad holidays. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The remaining religious holidays depend on the Hijri calendar and official confirmation.
## **Important: the 2027 calendar is not final yet**
As of August 2026, the UAE Government has not announced a final Gregorian calendar containing every confirmed 2027 Islamic holiday date.
Third-party calendars currently provide estimates, and some differ by approximately one day. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Residents should therefore treat the dates in this guide as **planning estimates rather than confirmed holiday announcements**.
Final Islamic holiday dates will be announced by the relevant UAE authorities closer to each occasion.
## **Why this matters**
Knowing the expected UAE public holidays early can make a significant difference when planning flights, hotels and annual leave.
The 2027 calendar already contains several promising opportunities, particularly New Year, Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Etihad.
The strongest confirmed calendar opportunity is currently **Eid Al Etihad**, with December 2 and 3 falling on Thursday and Friday and potentially combining with the regular weekend for four consecutive days off.
Eid holidays could produce even longer breaks, but residents should wait for official moon-sighting announcements before locking in non-refundable travel plans.
## **FAQs**
### **How many UAE public holidays will there be in 2027?**
The UAE holiday framework provides holidays for New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday and two days for Eid Al Etihad. The total number of days off depends partly on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **When is Eid Al Fitr expected in 2027?**
It is currently expected around March 9–12, but the exact dates will depend on the Islamic calendar and moon sighting. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **When is Eid Al Adha expected in 2027?**
Current estimates place Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha around May 15–18, although the dates remain tentative. ([Time and Date](https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/united-arab-emirates/2027?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Will UAE residents get four days off for Eid Al Adha?**
The official framework provides one day for Arafah Day followed by three days for Eid Al Adha. How this combines with an employee’s weekend depends on the final lunar dates and their work schedule. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **When is Eid Al Etihad in 2027?**
Eid Al Etihad holidays are December 2 and 3. In 2027, these fall on Thursday and Friday, potentially creating a four-day break through Sunday for employees with Saturday-Sunday weekends. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Are UAE public holidays the same for private and government employees?**
Yes. The UAE Government’s public holiday framework applies to both the public and private sectors. ([U.AE](https://u.ae/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Are the 2027 dates confirmed?**
January 1 and December 2–3 are fixed Gregorian dates. Islamic holidays remain subject to the Hijri calendar, moon sighting and official UAE announcements.
## **Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: UAE Government Official Portal, UAE Cabinet and cited calendar and astronomical resources.
## **Image Credits**
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at **concerns@whatmatters.ae**.