The level of significance of public holidays in the UAE is related to employment planning, payroll management, and compliance of the workforce. To prevent conflicts connected with the working days, overtime, and salary calculations, both employees and employers should know officially recognised public holidays to follow the UAE Labour Law and eliminate controversies.
The article by HHS Lawyers can serve as a full-fledged UAE public holiday list in the year 2026 and includes some of the critical legal explanations that would apply to the private sector.
UAE Holidays 2026
Remark: Islamic holidays are calculated in reference to the Hijri calendar and are subject to official announcements of moon sighting by the authorities in the UAE. This is confirmed by the UAE Cabinet.
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List of UAE Public Holiday Table 2026
| Date | Day | Public Holiday | Legal Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year day | Fixed Gregorian holiday. |
| 20–22 March 2026 | Friday-Sunday 2026/2226 March 202630 March 2026 | Friday-Sunday 2026 March 202630 March 202630 March 2026 | Friday-Sunday 2026 |
| 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | Arafat Day | Eve before Eid Al Adha. |
| 27–29 May 2026 | Wednesday-Friday | Eid Al Adha | Major Islamic day. |
| 16 June 2026 | Tuesday | Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) | A lunar based holiday. |
| 25 August 2026 | Tuesday | Prophet Muhammad Birthday day | Lunar-based holiday. |
| 2–3 December 2026 | Wednesday–Thursday | UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | Fixed national holiday |
The dates in asterisks are provisional and are subject to revision by official announcements of the moon sighted days.
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UAE Labour Law Rules on Public Holidays
According to the Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, every employee of the private sector has the right to paid leave during officially announced public holidays.
Should an employee be needed to work during a public holiday, the employer should either:
- Give an alternative rest day, or
- Make some extra payments according to the law and the employment contract.
Inability to comply can make the employer vulnerable to labour claims and fines.
Islamic Moon Sighting and UAE Islamic Holidays 2026
The UAE governmental holidays that follow are based on the Islamic lunar calendar:
- Eid Al Fitr
- Arafat Day
- Eid Al Adha
- Islamic New Year
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
Such holidays can change one day according to the sight of the moon. It is recommended that the employers should be flexible and keep track of the official announcements of the government.
2026 Payroll and Public Holiday Salary Rules in UAE
To the employers, the public holidays directly affect:
- Salary calculations
- Overtime pay
- Shift scheduling
- Attendance records
The staff on public holidays can be entitled to receive additional compensation or compensational leaves, based on the terms and conditions of the contract.
Why Public Holiday Compliance is Important Under UAE Labour Law
Failure to adhere to the regulations of the UAE public holidays can result in:
- Labour disputes
- MOHRE complaints
- Salary and overtime claims
- Administrative penalties
HHS Lawyers offer frequent help to employers and employees with:
- Employment law compliance
- Public holiday pay disputes
- Employment contract review
- MOHRE labour assertions and consultative.
Conclusion
Public holidays in the UAE in 2026 benefit the employee by giving him or her statutory paid leave a day off, and the employer because it gives him or her a better picture of how the workforce will be planned. Whereas the fixed holidays are predictable, Islamic holidays are prone to official confirmation.
In order to prevent misunderstandings and legal risks, the internal HR policies should be renewed by employers annually, and the entitlement to public holidays should be properly fulfilled.
It is highly advisable to seek the counsel of seasoned legal experts on the employment law issues within the UAE.
Official Government Source: MOHRE
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FAQ’s
Do the UAE pay public holidays as required by Labour Law?
No, as per the UAE Labour Law, the staff in the private sector is entitled to paid holidays during public holidays. During official public holidays declared by the UAE government, employees are entitled to receive one hundred percent of the salary.
What will occur in case an employee works in UAE during a public holiday?
When an employee has to work on a public day, the employer will have to give him an extra day off or remunerate the employee with his normal salary with at least half the wage in addition to the basic salary in that day.
Does the UAE have the same public holidays in the private and government sectors?
The government of the UAE usually declares unified public holidays both in the public and the private sector, however, there are instances when government workers might get extended holiday.
Do the UAE public holidays calendar include Islamic holidays annually?
No, Islamic holidays like Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and the Islamic new year are pegged on the lunar calendar and hence they can differ in every year according to the sight of the moon.
Do part-time employees get public holidays in the UAE?
Yes, even the part-time workers can enjoy the public holidays, but the compensation can be paid in accordance with the working hours or the terms of the contracts.
Is it legal to request employees to work during the public holidays?
Yes, it is not a problem to ask the employees to work during the public holidays when the business needs it, but they have to pay or give the employee a replacement leave according to the UAE Labour Law.
Does the UAE include public holidays in annual leave?
No, the official public holidays are not part of the annual leave and do not come out of the annual leave of an employee.
Who declares the public holidays in UAE?
The UAE government announces official UAE public holidays, typically via the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and the announcements of the UAE Cabinet.
