UAE public holidays for travellers: dates, long weekends and what they mean for your trip

What are the UAE public holidays this year?

The UAE government portal lists these public holidays for the public and private sectors:

Holiday	Rule	Projected 2027 date
New Year	1 January	Friday 1 January
Eid Al Fitr	1 to 3 Shawwal, plus day 30 of Ramadan if the month has 30 days	About 9 to 11 March, or to 12 March
Arafah Day	9 Dhu Al Hijjah	About 15 May
Eid Al Adha	10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah	About 16 to 18 May
Hijri New Year	1 Muharram	About Sunday 6 June
Prophet’s Birthday	12 Rabi’ Awwal	About Saturday 14 August
National Day (Eid Al Etihad)	2 and 3 December	Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December

The 2027 column comes from Gulf News projections. It is not an official list, so use it for early planning only.

Which dates are fixed and which depend on moon sighting?

New Year and National Day are fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The other five follow the Hijri calendar, which the UAE sets by moon sighting. They arrive about 11 days earlier each year, and the exact day is confirmed shortly before.

Your plan needs slack. If a flight or a meeting sits on the day before or after a moon-sighted holiday, keep a spare day. Our Eid in Dubai guide and Ramadan guide for visitors cover the two biggest ones.

Long weekends and the busiest days at DXB and Zayed International

With a Saturday and Sunday weekend, a Friday or Monday holiday makes a three-day break. The 2027 projections give:

• New Year on Friday 1 January: Friday to Sunday.
• Eid Al Fitr from Tuesday 9 March: a break that can reach Friday 12 March, and run on to the weekend.
• Eid Al Adha, about Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May.
• National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December: Thursday to Sunday.

Departures spike the last working day before a break, and arrivals the last day of it. Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International both fill. Read our airport departure timing guide for how early to leave, and book airport transfers before the dates fill.

Holiday road traffic to Hatta, Fujairah and Oman is its own problem. See the border queues holiday calendar.

What is open on public holidays?

Malls, restaurants, beaches and most tourist attractions stay open, often with longer hours. Government offices and banks close, and many private offices do too. Check opening times for any permit, visa or bank errand before you plan around a holiday.

Parking, Salik and the Metro on public holidays

Dubai public paid parking has been free on Sundays and public holidays, except for multi-storey car parks and special zones. Check parkin.ae before the day, and read the street sign. Our Dubai parking guide explains zones.

Salik gates work every day, and this page could not confirm any holiday exemption. The Metro runs on adjusted hours that RTA announces ahead of each holiday.

Planning transfers and tours around holidays

Book early for the first and last day of any break. Ask for a pickup time that allows for slow roads on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi route, the Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. For a spread-out group, a tour or an intercity transfer gives you a fixed vehicle rather than a hunt for taxis. Companies planning a delegation over a holiday can use corporate transport, and a chauffeur by the hour suits flexible plans. The wider picture is in the best time to visit Dubai guide.

The UAE weekend, Friday prayers and working hours

The UAE moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend with a half day on Friday for government entities from 1 January 2022, according to WAM. Many private businesses follow it, but not all, so confirm with the company you are meeting.