May 2026 in UAE: Eid Al Adha Dates and What to Plan For

What is confirmed

Eid Al Adha 2026 starts on Wednesday, 27 May, following the official crescent sighting confirmed by UAE authorities. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has announced a public holiday for federal government employees from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May. Federal offices and entities reopen on Monday 1 June 2026.

MoHRE has confirmed the private sector holiday from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May, four days, starting one day after the federal break. Private sector employees are not subject to the FAHR announcement; MoHRE is the applicable authority.

Combined with the preceding weekend (Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May) and the following weekend (Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May), federal employees have nine consecutive days away from the office; private sector employees have eight. This is a planning reference, not a declared universal holiday for all UAE workers.

What is still being verified

The scope of the holiday beyond federal government has not yet been confirmed from official sources for this calendar:

• Private sector: Confirmed. MoHRE circular captured: 26–29 May 2026 (see calendar item D and sources table).
• Dubai government: DGHR (Dubai Government Human Resources) issues its own circular for Dubai government entities. Not yet confirmed for 2026.
• Schools: KHDA and individual school managements set school holiday schedules separately. Not yet confirmed for 2026.
• Government service centers: Availability of Amer centers, ICP service counters, GDRFA offices, and other government service points during the holiday period is not confirmed and requires separate official source.

Residents and businesses should check directly with their employer, relevant authority, or service center for the applicable holiday scope.

Key dates: May 2026

Practical planning notes

For residents generally: Check with your employer for your specific holiday entitlement. Do not assume the federal holiday applies to your workplace unless your employer or HR confirms it.

For business owners and company directors: If your business or staff interact with federal government entities for approvals, submissions, visa-related steps, trade license renewals, or FTA portal actions, plan for federal offices to be unavailable from 25 to 29 May. Build a buffer before 25 May for any time-sensitive submissions.

For visa and document tasks: If you have an upcoming visa renewal, Emirates ID renewal, or document attestation that requires visiting a government service center, aim to complete it before 23 May or plan for after 1 June. Service center availability during the Eid period is not confirmed.

For families: If your children are in a Dubai school, check directly with the school for the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday schedule. School holiday dates are not confirmed.

For travel planning: Dubai airports remain operational during Eid holidays, though expect higher passenger volumes around the Eid weekend. This is an observation, not an official statement from any authority.