The UAE Council for Fatwa has confirmed the Islamic dates for Eid Al Adha 2026 after the Dhul Hijjah crescent was sighted on Sunday 17 May 2026. Arafat Day falls on Tuesday 26 May; Eid Al Adha Day 1 on Wednesday 27 May. FAHR has officially confirmed a five-day break for the public sector (Mon 25 – Fri 29 May). The MOHRE circular for the private sector is the only piece still pending — expected within 24–48 hours of the moon sighting.
When will MOHRE announce Eid Al Adha 2026 Holidays for Private Sector
MOHRE has not yet issued the Eid Al Adha 2026 circular for the UAE private sector. Historically the Ministry publishes its circular within one to two working days of the Dhul Hijjah moon sighting. With the moon sighted on Sunday 17 May 2026, the most probable MOHRE announcement window is Monday 18 May to Tuesday 19 May 2026. Once issued, the circular will appear simultaneously on mohre.gov.ae and through the WAM Emirates News Agency.
The paid Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday is already protected by federal law — at least four days from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026, with the possibility of a fifth day matching the public sector. The MOHRE circular does not grant the holiday. It operationalises it for employers.
For the full Arafat Day announcement breakdown: When Is Arafat Day 2026? For the Arafat Day official announcement process: Arafat Day 2026 UAE Official Announcement.
Eid Al Adha 2026 Date — What Was Announced, By Whom
Three different UAE authorities announce different pieces of the Eid Al Adha holiday picture. Two have already issued their announcements; one is still pending. Here is what each has confirmed as of 18 May 2026.
The UAE Council for Fatwa — operating under the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments — announced on Sunday evening 17 May 2026 that the Dhul Hijjah crescent had been sighted. This ruling locked the Islamic calendar dates: Arafat Day on Tuesday 26 May (9 Dhul Hijjah) and Eid Al Adha Day 1 on Wednesday 27 May (10 Dhul Hijjah). The Council’s ruling is the spiritual anchor and the foundation for every operational holiday announcement that follows.
FAHR (Federal Authority for Government Human Resources) issued its official circular confirming the public sector holiday runs Monday 25 May through Friday 29 May 2026 — five paid days, with federal employees returning to work on Monday 1 June. The Ministry of Education aligns school closures with the same window.
MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) has not yet issued its circular for the private sector. The four paid days from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May are already locked under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024; MOHRE’s announcement will confirm whether Monday 25 May is added as a fifth day to match the public sector. Expected 18–19 May 2026.
| Date | Day | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Public sector paid holiday (pre-Arafat). Schools closed. | ✅ FAHR confirmed (public sector) · ❌ Not in MOHRE private sector circular |
| 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | Arafat Day (9 Dhul Hijjah). Day of Hajj pilgrimage at Mount Arafat. Paid holiday for all sectors. | ✅ Confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa & FAHR |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Eid Al Adha Day 1 (10 Dhul Hijjah). Eid prayer + Qurbani sacrifice. Paid holiday for all sectors. | ✅ Confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa & FAHR |
| 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Eid Al Adha Day 2 (11 Dhul Hijjah). First Day of Tashreeq. Paid holiday. | ✅ Confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa & FAHR |
| 29 May 2026 | Friday | Eid Al Adha Day 3 (12 Dhul Hijjah). Second Day of Tashreeq. Last paid holiday day. | ✅ Confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa & FAHR |
| 30–31 May 2026 | Sat–Sun | Weekend. 13 Dhul Hijjah falls on Saturday — final Day of Tashreeq & close of the Qurbani window before Maghrib. | ✅ Weekend |
| 1 June 2026 | Monday | Public sector resumes work. Schools reopen. | ✅ FAHR confirmed |
When did MOHRE announce Eid Al Adha Holidays last year?
MOHRE announced Eid Al Adha 2025 private sector holidays on Thursday 29 May 2025 — two days after the Dhul Hijjah moon was sighted on Tuesday 27 May 2025. The same one-to-two-working-day window has held three years running.
Who or what is MOHRE?
MOHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — the UAE federal ministry that regulates labour law for the private sector. It enforces holidays, wages, contracts, end-of-service benefits and worker rights for around seven million private sector employees across the seven emirates.
What happens after the MOHRE announcement
Once MOHRE publishes the Eid Al Adha 2026 circular, the paid holiday becomes legally enforceable for every private sector employer in the UAE. Employer obligations: grant the paid days off; pay 200% of basic daily wage to any employee required to attend; provide substitute paid leave to shift workers.
Withholding any of the four Cabinet-mandated Eid Holidays 2026 days is a direct violation of UAE labour law. The penalty is AED 5,000 per worker per affected day. Workers facing a refusal call MOHRE on 600 590 000.
What to do before the MOHRE announcement
The MOHRE announcement is operational, not foundational. The paid days are already guaranteed by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Acting now still has measurable upside: request Monday 25 May as annual leave (it gets returned if MOHRE adds it to the circular), clarify your roster if in hospitality or security, and finalise travel — UAE hotel rates jump within 24 hours of the MOHRE announcement.
Frequently asked questions
When will MOHRE announce Eid Al Adha 2026 holidays for the private sector?
MOHRE issued the Eid Al Adha 2026 circular for the UAE private sector on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the Dhul Hijjah moon was sighted on Sunday 17 May 2026. The circular confirmed four paid days from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026.
What is MOHRE and what does it do?
MOHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — the UAE federal ministry that regulates labour law for the private sector. It enforces holidays, wages, contracts and worker rights for approximately seven million employees across the seven emirates.
What date is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha 2026 falls on Wednesday 27 May 2026, with Arafat Day on Tuesday 26 May. Both dates were confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa on Sunday 17 May 2026 following the official Dhul Hijjah crescent sighting.
How many paid days off does the private sector get for Eid Al Adha 2026?
The private sector gets four paid days for Eid Al Adha 2026, from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026. MOHRE confirmed this on Monday 18 May 2026, one day after the moon sighting. Monday 25 May was not added to the private sector circular — the public-private gap remains this year (5 days vs 4 days).
What pay do I get if I work during Eid Al Adha 2026?
Workers required to attend on any Eid Al Adha 2026 day are entitled to 200% of basic daily salary — 150% standard pay plus a 50% public holiday premium.
Sources: UAE Council for Fatwa moon sighting confirmation 17 May 2026; FAHR Eid Al Adha 2026 circular (public sector); MOHRE private sector circular issued 18 May 2026 (Tue 26 – Fri 29 May, four paid days), via WAM and Khaleej Times; Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024; Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Last updated: 18 May 2026.
Leave a Reply