Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays: Public & Private Sector, Schools, Banks + What To Do
Your complete guide to Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays — official dates confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa and MOHRE on 18 May 2026: public & private sector rules, school closures, the 9-day break hack, and what’s open.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays — the Islamic dates are now confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa after Sunday’s moon sighting. Arafat Day falls on Tuesday 26 May and Eid Al Adha Day 1 on Wednesday 27 May. The public sector holiday window (Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May, five paid days) has been confirmed by FAHR. MOHRE confirmed the private sector dates on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the moon sighting — four paid days running Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May.
Public sector employees get nine consecutive days off with no leave needed, including both surrounding weekends. Private sector workers are guaranteed four paid days (Tue 26 – Fri 29 May) under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 — with a one-day leave on Monday 25 May stretching that to nine.
This guide covers everything: holiday dates by sector, school closures, banks, what’s open, and travel planning.
📡 LIVE STATUS TRACKER
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays
Eid Al Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — is the holiest Eid in Islam. It marks the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to God. Across the UAE, the entire country shifts into celebration mode: prayers, family gatherings, acts of charity, and a festive energy that fills every neighbourhood.
💬 Send Eid wishes to family & friends
Things to do this Eid
When Is Eid Al Adha 2026? What Are the UAE Holiday Dates?
Eid Al Adha 2026 Date
The UAE Council for Fatwa has confirmed: Arafat Day falls on Tuesday 26 May 2026 and Eid Al Adha Day 1 on Wednesday 27 May. The Council declared the Dhul Hijjah moon sighted on Sunday evening, 17 May 2026, making Monday 18 May the first day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH. Eid Days 2 and 3 follow on Thursday 28 May and Friday 29 May.
Note: Monday 25 May is not Arafat Day — it is an additional pre-Arafat day off granted by FAHR to the public sector only. The Islamic observances themselves run from 26 May.
UAE Holiday Dates for Eid Al Adha 2026
Holiday dates in the UAE are announced separately for different groups — and they don’t all get the same days off. Here’s how it breaks down:
Private sector four-day entitlement (Tue 26 – Fri 29 May) was confirmed by MOHRE on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the moon sighting. Monday 25 May was not added — the public sector keeps its 5-day window and the private sector stays at 4 days.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays for Public Sector
Public sector employees get five paid days off — Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026, with work resuming Monday 1 June. FAHR confirmed the holiday on 12 May 2026 via the UAE Government Media Office.
YOUR FIVE PAID DAYS · PUBLIC SECTOR
This framework applies to federal ministries, courts, RTA service centres, ICP/GDRFA centres, municipality offices, DEWA/SEWA counters, and all aligned local government entities.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays for Private Sector
Private sector employees get four paid days — Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026, confirmed by MOHRE on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the moon sighting. Monday 25 May was not added for the private sector, so the public–private gap holds this year.
YOUR FOUR PAID DAYS · PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC vs PRIVATE SECTOR · EID AL ADHA 2026
Gap = Monday 25 May — public sector only
The four paid days are statutory under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 and apply to every contract type, every nationality, and every emirate.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays for Schools
All UAE schools close Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026 and reopen Monday 1 June — a five-school-day break that stretches to nine calendar days with the weekends on either side. The closure combines the third-semester mid-term break with the Eid Al Adha holiday, confirmed by the UAE Ministry of Education and aligned by KHDA, ADEK, and SPEA.
NINE-DAY CALENDAR · SCHOOL FAMILIES
📅 KEY DATES FOR PARENTS
The break lands right before the academic year’s final assessment phase, giving students a recovery window before mock exams and end-of-term reports.
Eid Al Adha 2026 Holidays for Banks and Government Services
Bank branches close for 4 days — Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026 — and federal government counters close for 5 days, Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May. Both reopen Monday 1 June. Digital channels stay live throughout: ATMs, mobile banking, UAE PASS, TAMM, DubaiNow, and card payments all operate around the clock.
⚡ ALWAYS ON · 24/7 THROUGH THE EID BREAK
🚦 SERVICE IMPACT DURING THE HOLIDAY
Bank service hours for the final working day (Sunday 24 May) sometimes shorten — call your branch to confirm. Most digital services see no interruption: payments, transfers within the same bank, and mobile-wallet top-ups (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Wallet) all continue.
Planning Travel During Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays
Eid Al Adha is the peak outbound travel window of the UAE year. With dates now confirmed, fare windows have closed sharply — Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May fares have typically doubled in the final week. If you’re still booking, refundable fares around Eid Day 1 remain the safest option in case any sector adjustments are made closer to the holiday.
What’s Open and Closed During Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, metro, parks and beaches are all open during Eid. Government offices, bank branches, schools and courts are closed.
Make the most of your Eid break
Frequently Asked Questions — Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Holidays
What are the official Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday dates in the UAE?
Arafat Day is Tuesday 26 May 2026, and Eid Al Adha Day 1 is Wednesday 27 May 2026 — confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa on 17 May 2026 after the Dhul Hijjah moon sighting. The public sector holiday is Monday 25 May through Friday 29 May (five paid days), confirmed by FAHR. MOHRE confirmed the private sector dates on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the moon sighting: four paid days from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May. Monday 25 May was not added for the private sector.
How many days off is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Public sector employees get five confirmed paid days (Monday 25 – Friday 29 May), and with both surrounding weekends that is nine consecutive days off with no leave needed. Private sector workers get four paid days (Tuesday 26 – Friday 29 May) confirmed by MOHRE on 18 May 2026 — combined with the following weekend that gives six consecutive days. Private sector workers can take Monday 25 May as one annual leave day to extend the break to nine days.
Who announces Eid Al Adha holidays for the private sector?
Private sector Eid holiday dates are officially announced by MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) through a ministerial circular. MOHRE issued the Eid Al Adha 2026 circular on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the Dhul Hijjah moon sighting, confirming four paid days for the private sector (Tue 26 – Fri 29 May).
When do UAE schools reopen after Eid Al Adha 2026?
All UAE schools reopen on Monday 1 June 2026. Schools close from Monday 25 May, giving students between 5 and 7 calendar days off depending on the school type.
Sources: UAE Council for Fatwa moon sighting announcement 17 May 2026; FAHR Eid Al Adha 2026 circular (public sector, 5 days, announced 12 May 2026); MOHRE private sector circular issued 18 May 2026 (Tue 26 – Fri 29 May, four paid days), via WAM and Khaleej Times; UAE Ministry of Education unified academic calendar 2025–2026 (third-semester mid-term + Eid break); KHDA, ADEK, SPEA holiday confirmations; Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) holiday framework; Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Last updated: 18 May 2026.
