The UAE’s public and business calendar differs in some respects from European practice, largely because it is shaped by Islamic traditions. For entrepreneurs operating in the UAE, tracking weekends and public holidays has practical importance, as these dates affect deal timelines, delivery schedules, and the planning of staff working hours in 2026.
- Lunar calendar determines religious holidays, causing their Gregorian dates to shift annually and await moon‑sighting confirmation.
- Federal Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets official public holidays in the UAE, applicable to public and private sectors.
- Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha dates cannot be moved; other holidays may be shifted to start or end of the week.
- Standard working limit is 48 hours/week (eight/day); Ramadan reduces daily hours and entitles breaks and adjusted schedules.
- Federal public sector uses a 4.5‑day week (Fri after 12:00, Sat, Sun); private sector may set different rest days.
- Employees receive paid annual leave (minimum 30 days) plus maternity, sick, bereavement and other statutory leave entitlements.
How the UAE Calendar Works in Practice
One key feature of timekeeping in the UAE, including Dubai, is that the lunar calendar is used alongside the Gregorian calendar. The lunar calendar also has 12 months, but each month lasts 29–30 days, which makes it 10–12 days shorter than the Gregorian year.
Across Arab countries, the lunar calendar is used for religious observances, so all religious holidays in the UAE are set by it. Because the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, these holidays do not have fixed dates in the Gregorian calendar and shift each year. The exact Gregorian dates are confirmed after moon‑sighting, which in the UAE is overseen by the Moon Sighting Committee.
As a result, the working hours of government bodies and some institutions are confirmed only a few days before the holidays. This is important to factor into business planning, for example when scheduling company registration or filings in the UAE.
Public Holidays in the UAE in 2026
The official list of public holidays in the UAE is set at federal level by a Cabinet Resolution and applies to both the public and private sectors. This means that, in addition to government bodies (including schools and universities), private companies also close, while employees retain the right to salary for these days. If work is required on a public holiday, those hours must be paid at an enhanced rate (see below) or compensated with alternative days off.
The list of public holidays is established by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which specifies the dates of religious holidays by reference to the lunar calendar. This is why the corresponding Gregorian dates shift each year. For convenience, in the table below we indicate the anticipated Gregorian dates for religious holidays in 2026.
| Holiday | Date and notes |
|---|---|
|
New Year |
1 January, set by the Gregorian calendar |
|
Eid al‑Fitr |
20–22 March, the holiday marking the end of fasting during the month of Ramadan. |
|
Arafat Day |
26 May, the day before Eid al‑Adha. On this day pilgrims perform key rites, while Muslims not performing Hajj seek to spend Arafat Day in piety and additional prayers. |
|
Eid al‑Adha |
27–29 May, one of the main Islamic holidays that concludes the Hajj. |
|
Islamic New Year |
16 June (may be moved to Monday 15 June) |
|
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday |
25 August (may be moved to Monday 24 August) |
|
UAE National Day |
2–3 December, set by the Gregorian calendar. This day marks the union of the Emirates into a single state. |
Public holidays in the UAE may be moved to the start or end of the week if they fall on a weekend. An exception applies to Eid al‑Fitr and Eid al‑Adha; these may not be moved.
The Resolution also allows local governments to declare additional public holidays.
Weekends and Working Days in the UAE
In addition to public holidays, company owners in the UAE must take into account the requirement to provide employees with weekly rest days.
Under UAE labour law, working hours must not exceed 48 per week (for most occupations) or eight per day. In other words, employees are entitled to at least one weekly rest day under a six‑day working week. During the holy month of Ramadan, the working day is reduced by two hours for all employees, regardless of religion.
If the working day exceeds five hours, the employee is entitled to a break of at least one hour.
UAE labour law allows overtime provided it does not exceed two hours per day (with limited exceptions). In all cases, total working hours must not exceed 144 within any three‑week period.
Overtime pay is calculated as follows, based on the employee’s basic wage, for each additional hour:
- 25% in the general case where overtime does not exceed two hours per day;
- 50% for overtime worked between 22:00 and 04:00, or when working on a designated weekly rest day or public holiday.
Shorter Working Week for UAE Public Sector Employees
Shorter working week for UAE public sector employees
Without changing the general rules on standard working hours, the UAE federal government announced a move to a 4.5‑day working week from January 2022 for all federal government entities. Weekends are therefore:
- Friday after 12:00,
- Saturday, and
- Sunday.
The change is intended to align more closely with international partners, most of whom treat Saturday and Sunday as weekends (rather than Friday and Saturday, as in many Arab countries).
This update officially applies only to the public sector. At the same time, UAE labour law no longer stipulates that Friday must be a weekly rest day. Private sector employers may therefore set different weekly rest days, which will require updating employment contracts and internal HR policies and notifying staff.
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Leave Entitlements in the UAE
In addition to weekends and public holidays, employees in the UAE, including Dubai, are entitled to paid annual leave of at least 30 calendar days per year. Employers may, at their discretion, grant additional days. Part‑time employees are entitled to annual leave on a pro‑rata basis according to time actually worked for the employer.
Public holidays and regular weekends are included within the annual leave period; however, the employment contract or the company’s internal policies may provide more favourable terms.
Beyond annual leave, employees in the UAE are entitled to paid leave (to varying extents), including:
- Maternity leave of 60 days.
- Sick leave of up to 90 days per year, with the first 45 days paid.
- Bereavement leave of 3 to 5 days, depending on the relationship.
- Parental leave of 5 working days within six months of a child’s birth.
UAE citizens are also entitled to leave to perform service in the national and reserve armed forces.
An employee may also be granted academic leave of up to 10 working days per year to sit examinations, provided they have been employed by the relevant employer for at least two years.
How Weekends and Public Holidays Are Regulated in the Emirates and Free Zones
Companies registered in the UAE Free Zones must comply with the regulations of the relevant Free Zone, including on labour matters. Rules on working hours, weekly rest days and leave may differ by Zone, but they largely mirror federal law. For example:
| Free Zone | Working time features |
|---|---|
|
The primary legislation, Employment Regulations 2024, provides for:
|
|
|
The primary legislation, Employment Law 2019 (as amended), provides for:
Overtime and overtime pay are not expressly stipulated in the legislation. |
In addition, some Emirates set their own rules for working hours and weekly rest days. In 2022, the Emirate of Sharjah introduced a four‑day working week for public sector employees, so weekends in Sharjah are:
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Conclusion
The system of weekends and public holidays in the UAE is based largely on the Islamic calendar, which sets the dates of religious holidays. Secular holidays follow the Gregorian calendar commonly used in Europe.
Companies operating in the Emirates must factor in how official non‑working days are determined, as well as the specific labour rules of the relevant Emirate or Free Zone regarding weekly rest days and leave entitlements.
