Eid Al Adha 2026 in UAE: Dates, Federal Holiday and Planning Notes

What is Eid Al Adha

Eid Al Adha is one of the two major Islamic holidays and marks the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. It falls on 10 Dhu Al Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. In the UAE, the date is set each year following an official crescent sighting announcement by UAE authorities.

Eid Al Adha 2026 was confirmed to begin on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

Key dates: Eid Al Adha 2026

What is confirmed

Eid Al Adha 2026 religious date: The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent, establishing Eid Al Adha 2026 on 27 May 2026. This is the confirmed religious date for the UAE.

Federal government holiday: FAHR announced a public holiday for federal government employees and entities from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May 2026. Work in federal entities resumes on Monday 1 June 2026.

Private sector holiday: MoHRE has confirmed the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday for private sector employees from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026. This is one day shorter than the federal holiday, which starts on 25 May. Private sector employees are not covered by the FAHR announcement; MoHRE is the applicable authority for this sector.

Arafah Day: Arafah Day falls on 9 Dhu Al Hijjah, which is Tuesday 26 May 2026. In the UAE, Arafah Day is included in the public holiday framework under the established legislation.

Federal long-break planning window: Federal employees have nine consecutive days away from federal offices when the Eid holiday period (25–29 May) is combined with the weekend before (23–24 May) and the weekend after (30–31 May). This is a planning observation for those interacting with federal government entities. It is not an independently declared holiday for all workers in the UAE.

What residents should plan

Document and service tasks: Any task that requires a federal government service center, ICP counter, or GDRFA office (visa renewals, Emirates ID applications, document attestation, entry permit submissions) should be completed before 23 May or planned for after 1 June. Service center availability during the Eid holiday period has not been confirmed from an official source.

Avoid the last working days before the break: Thursday 21 May and Sunday 24 May are likely to be very busy at government service points as residents rush to complete tasks before the break. Aim to act earlier in May.

Travel: Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports remain operational during public holidays. Expect higher passenger volumes around the Eid weekend. Book flights, hotels, or intercity travel in advance if you are planning to move during this period.

Families: If your children attend a Dubai school, check directly with the school for the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday dates. School holiday dates are not confirmed from an official source and may differ from federal government dates.

Prayer and observance: Eid Al Adha prayers are held at mosques and open grounds across the UAE in the morning of 27 May. Quiet hours and observance norms apply on Eid mornings.

What business owners should plan

Government submissions and approvals: Federal government offices, including the Ministry of Economy, FTA, MOHRE, DED (Dubai), ICP, and other federal entities, will be closed from 25 to 29 May. Any pending company renewal, labor file action, FTA portal submission, or trade license step that involves a government portal or in-person visit should be completed before 23 May.

Employee scheduling: MoHRE has confirmed the private sector Eid Al Adha holiday runs from 26 to 29 May 2026, one day shorter than the federal holiday, which starts on 25 May. If your company is in the private sector, the MoHRE dates apply. If your company is registered in a free zone or falls under another jurisdiction, check whether that authority has issued its own Eid holiday notice. Do not apply the FAHR dates to private sector staff or vice versa.

Bank and financial services: UAE banks typically operate on reduced hours during public holidays. Check your bank's specific schedule for the Eid period. Schedule any time-sensitive payments or transfers ahead of the break.

Free zone authority interactions: If your company interacts with DMCC, ADGM, DIFC, JAFZA, or other free zone authorities for approvals, renewals, or submissions, check each authority's specific holiday schedule. Free zone authorities often follow their own calendars.

Corporate document tasks: If any document requires notarization, attestation, or a Ministry of Justice signature during this period, complete it before 23 May. Courts and notary offices follow government holiday schedules.

What is still being verified

The following areas require additional official sources before related claims can be made:

Private sector holiday: Confirmed. MoHRE announced 26–29 May 2026 for private sector employees. See the confirmed section above.

Dubai government entities: DGHR's announcement for Dubai government employees has been confirmed by multiple UAE media (Gulf News, Arabian Business, Emirates 24/7, Time Out Dubai) attributing directly to DGHR: 25–29 May, work resumes 1 June. An official dghr.gov.ae permalink was not directly accessible at research time. Verify the official DGHR permalink before making this claim in published content.

Schools: KHDA's unified academic calendar covers the same holiday period: 25–29 May, classes resume 1 June 2026. Confirmed by multiple UAE education media (Gulf News, Khaleej Times, The National). A specific KHDA circular URL was not captured. Verify the KHDA academic calendar page before making any school claim in published content.

Government service centers: Availability of Amer centers, ICP branches, GDRFA service points, and other government service counters during the holiday period is not confirmed from official sources. Residents should call or check online before visiting.

Source note

This page is based on three official UAE government announcements:

1. WAM (Emirates News Agency): confirming the Dhul Hijjah crescent sighting and Eid Al Adha 2026 start date. Source URL recorded in the related source ledger. Recheck before publish. 2. FAHR (Federal Authority for Government Human Resources): confirming the federal government holiday period from 25 to 29 May 2026. Source URL recorded in the related source ledger. Recheck before publish. 3. MoHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation): confirming the private sector holiday from 26 to 29 May 2026. Arabic-language official source. URL recorded in the related source ledger. Recheck before publish.

Claims about Dubai government entities and schools require additional official sources (DGHR, KHDA) and are not included here.