We found no official Cabinet list of UAE public holidays for 2027 as of 2 November 2026, so the dates in the press are forecasts, except two fixed ones: New Year's Day on Friday 1 January and National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December. Eid Al Fitr is expected from Tuesday 9 March and Eid Al Adha from about 15 May, both subject to the moon. For visitors, a holiday rarely closes attractions; it brings crowds, higher prices and closed banks and offices. This guide gives the table, the weekend rule and what to book.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
What are the UAE public holidays in 2027?
New Year's Day on Friday 1 January and National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December are fixed. Expected: Eid Al Fitr from Tuesday 9 March, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, the Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet's birthday on Saturday 14 August. The Islamic dates depend on the moon.
This guide also answers:
- Has the UAE officially announced the 2027 public holidays?
- When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
- When is Eid Al Adha 2027 in the UAE?
Five holiday periods that matter to visitors
#1
New Year's Day, Friday 1 January
The official u.ae list gives 1 January as a fixed holiday. It falls on a Friday in 2027, so The National reports a three-day weekend with work resuming on Monday 4 January. For visitors it follows New Year's Eve, so expect a late start, busy hotels and crowds at the Burj Khalifa and the Fountain.
#2
Eid Al Fitr, from about 9 March
Khaleej Times expects the holiday to run from 9 to 11 March if Ramadan has 29 days, or from 9 to 12 March if it has 30, which could make a six-day break with the weekend. The moon sighting decides. Expect busy malls, beaches and roads, and book hotels and fixed-time tickets early.
#3
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, from about 15 May
Khaleej Times and Gulf News expect Arafah Day on Saturday 15 May and Eid Al Adha to follow, subject to the Dhu Al Hijjah moon sighting. The holiday is up to four days. May is already hot, so indoor places such as malls will be the busiest, and outdoor plans are best in the early morning or evening.
#4
National Day, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December
The official u.ae list gives 2 and 3 December as a two-day holiday. In 2027 those days are a Thursday and a Friday, and Khaleej Times counts a four-day weekend from 2 to 5 December. It falls at the start of peak season, so hotels and timed tickets fill early. Our National Day guide for this year has the format.
#5
Hijri New Year and the Prophet's birthday
Both are expected to fall on a weekend, subject to the moon. The u.ae page notes that a public holiday cannot be moved if it falls on the weekend, so there is no extra day off, and nothing changes much for a visitor. Attractions, beaches and restaurants run as on any Saturday or Sunday.
UAE public holidays 2027: the short answer
The two fixed dates are Friday 1 January for New Year's Day and Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December for National Day. The u.ae government page lists both as fixed. The Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting, so their 2027 dates are expected dates only: Eid Al Fitr from Tuesday 9 March, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha from Saturday 15 May, the Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet's birthday on Saturday 14 August.
We found no Cabinet decision that publishes the 2027 list. Khaleej Times (published 11 August, updated 30 October), Gulf News (updated 10 September) and The National (12 August) all describe the dates as expected. Some websites headline the list as announced, but the articles beneath them cite no official announcement. Everything below is as of 2 November 2026.
The 2027 holiday list
The dates below combine the fixed holidays on u.ae with the expected dates reported by Khaleej Times, Gulf News and The National. Treat the Islamic dates as provisional until the UAE Government confirms them.
| Holiday | Expected date | Length | Status and note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan | 1 day | Fixed; a three-day weekend, work resumes Mon 4 Jan |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tue 9 to Thu 11 Mar, or to Fri 12 Mar | 3 or 4 days | Moon sighting; a six-day break with the weekend if it runs to 12 March |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Sat 15 to Tue 18 May | Up to 4 days | Moon sighting; Arafah Day falls on a Saturday |
| Hijri New Year | Sun 6 Jun | 1 day | Moon sighting; falls on a Sunday |
| Prophet Muhammad's birthday | Sat 14 Aug | 1 day | Moon sighting; falls on a Saturday |
| National Day (Eid Al Etihad) | Thu 2 and Fri 3 Dec | 2 days | Fixed; a four-day weekend from 2 to 5 December |
As of 2 November 2026. Ramadan is not a public holiday; it is expected to begin on Monday 8 February.
Islamic holidays move about 10 days earlier each year, so a date from an older guidebook will be wrong. Our Ramadan 2027 guide and Eid Al Fitr guide give the detail for the spring dates.
Is there an official list?
The u.ae government page, last updated on 29 October 2026, lists the holidays by rule, not by calendar date. Fixed: Gregorian New Year on 1 January and National Day on 2 and 3 December. By moon sighting: Eid Al Fitr from 1 to 3 Shawwal, Arafah Day on 9 Dhu Al Hijjah, Eid Al Adha from 10 to 12 Dhu Al Hijjah, the Hijri New Year on 1 Muharram and the Prophet's birthday on 12 Rabi Al Awwal. The page adds that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, day 30 is also an official holiday for Eid Al Fitr.
The same page cites the Cabinet resolution on public holidays, Resolution No. 27, which says a holiday cannot be transferred to another day if it coincides with another public holiday or falls on the weekend. Khaleej Times adds that most holidays can be moved if the Cabinet issues a decision, and that Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha cannot be moved. In short, the dates in the table are forecasts until the Government confirms them, and the Islamic ones are confirmed after the moon sighting.
Holidays on a weekend
Three holidays are expected to fall on a Saturday or Sunday in 2027: Arafah Day on Saturday 15 May, the Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet's birthday on Saturday 14 August. Under the transfer rule above, a holiday on the weekend is not moved to another day, so there is no extra day off for workers. For a visitor, nothing changes: those days behave like ordinary weekend days.
What closes for tourists, and what does not
A public holiday is a day off for workers, not a closure of the tourist city. Banks, government offices and schools close, while malls, hotels, restaurants and beaches stay open, as our public holidays guide explains in full. Attractions set their own hours, so check the venue's website for the day. These are the points worth knowing:
- Paperwork and banks: do them before the holiday. Anything online or at an airport desk runs as usual.
- Timed tickets: book early. Our Burj Khalifa tickets, from $55, are issued for a fixed date and time and cannot be refunded or changed once issued, so confirm the date first.
- Global Village: the official ticket rules show the effect of a holiday. The AED 30 any-day ticket is valid on public holidays, the AED 25 weekday ticket is not, and the Tuesday ladies-and-families rule does not apply on official public holidays.
- Transport: check the S'hail app or the RTA website the day before, because timetables can change on holidays.
Our weekend and opening hours guide covers the normal week, and the Ramadan guide for tourists explains the one month that changes daily life more than any holiday.
Which holiday to plan around
New Year's Day follows the biggest night of the year, so keep 1 January light; our New Year's Eve guide covers the night itself. Eid Al Fitr is the one to plan around in spring: if the holiday runs to 12 March, residents get a six-day break, so expect the roads to Abu Dhabi and the desert to be busy, and book hotels early. Eid Al Adha in mid-May comes in hot weather, so choose indoor plans or the early morning.
National Day on 2 and 3 December opens peak season. This year's dates and format are in our National Day guide; the 2027 programme will be announced much closer to the date.
Using a holiday with our tours
A simple rule is to put crowded sights on quiet days and the quiet things on the busy ones. The full-day desert safari is from $45 per person, or $65 with a 30-minute quad bike ride, with hotel pickup in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman and no prepayment: you agree the date on WhatsApp and pay on the day. The Abu Dhabi city tour is from $45 shared, with 8:00 AM pickup, and the roads can be busier on a long weekend, so tell us the date and we check.
A Burj Khalifa slot needs full prepayment, so confirm the date and time with us first. Holiday dates are popular, so send them early and we confirm availability.
FAQ
What are the UAE public holidays in 2027?
New Year's Day on Friday 1 January and National Day on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December are fixed. Expected: Eid Al Fitr from Tuesday 9 March, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, the Hijri New Year on Sunday 6 June and the Prophet's birthday on Saturday 14 August. The Islamic dates depend on the moon.
Has the UAE officially announced the 2027 public holidays?
We found no Cabinet decision with the 2027 dates as of 2 November 2026. Khaleej Times, Gulf News and The National all describe the dates as expected. The u.ae page lists the holidays by rule, and the Islamic ones are confirmed after the moon sighting.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
Expected from Tuesday 9 March 2027. Khaleej Times gives 9 to 11 March if Ramadan has 29 days and 9 to 12 March if it has 30, which could make a six-day break with the weekend. The exact days are confirmed after the moon sighting.
When is Eid Al Adha 2027 in the UAE?
Arafah Day is expected on Saturday 15 May 2027, with Eid Al Adha following, so the holiday runs to about Tuesday 18 May. The dates depend on the Dhu Al Hijjah moon sighting.
Is New Year's Day 2027 a public holiday in the UAE?
Yes. 1 January is a fixed holiday and falls on a Friday in 2027, giving a three-day weekend. Work resumes on Monday 4 January, according to The National.
Is National Day 2027 on 2 and 3 December?
Yes. The u.ae page lists National Day as 2 and 3 December. In 2027 those are a Thursday and a Friday, so residents get a four-day weekend from 2 to 5 December.
What happens when a UAE holiday falls on a weekend?
It is not moved. The u.ae page cites the Cabinet resolution on public holidays, which says a holiday cannot be transferred if it coincides with another holiday or falls on the weekend. In 2027 this applies to Arafah Day, the Hijri New Year and the Prophet's birthday.
Are tourist attractions closed on public holidays in the UAE?
Mostly not. Banks, government offices and schools close, while malls, hotels, restaurants and beaches stay open, and each attraction sets its own hours. Check the venue's site. For example, the Global Village weekday ticket at AED 25 is not valid on public holidays.
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Photos: Eid Al Fitr, from about 9 March — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, from about 15 May — Alberto-g-rovi, CC BY-SA 3.0, National Day, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December — Lxs, CC BY 4.0, Hijri New Year and the Prophet's birthday — Pmk58, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).