With 2026 approaching, attention is already turning to how public holidays will shape the year’s work calendar in Dubai, particularly those connected to major Islamic observances.
Under UAE public holiday regulations, employees are entitled to at least 12 official days off each year. A large portion of these are concentrated around Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, which consistently account for the longest breaks on the national calendar. Unlike some other public holidays, these two Eids are exempt from rules allowing days off to be moved to create longer weekends.
While the UAE’s National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, follows fixed Gregorian dates and applies only within the country, the timing of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha depends on the Islamic Hijri calendar. As a result, their exact dates are not fixed in advance, although astronomers can estimate them with reasonable accuracy.
Eid Al Fitr, one of the two most important religious celebrations for Muslims worldwide, marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The holiday begins on the first day of Shawwal and is traditionally associated with communal prayers and family gatherings after a month of fasting.
Based on current astronomical calculations, Eid Al Fitr in 2026 is expected to begin on Friday, March 20. If this projection holds, the first three days of Shawwal would fall on March 20, 21, and 22, resulting in a three-day weekend from Friday to Sunday in Dubai.
However, variations in the lunar calendar could shift this timeline. If the month of Shaban lasts 29 days, Ramadan would start on Wednesday, February 18, placing the first day of Eid Al Fitr on Thursday, March 19. In another possible scenario—where both Shaban and Ramadan run for 30 days—the first day of Shawwal would fall on Saturday, March 21.
Under that latter outcome, the Eid Al Fitr holiday in Dubai could extend to four days. The break would begin on Friday, March 20, which would correspond to the 30th day of Ramadan, and continue through Monday, March 23, pending official confirmation based on moon sighting.
