Your long weekend just got official.
MoHRE has confirmed it: if you work in the UAE private sector, you have 4 paid days off right before Eid Al Adha - from Tuesday, 26 May to Friday, 29 May. Stack that against your regular Saturday-Sunday weekend, and you're looking at a pleasantly surprising 6-day break!
Here's how the calendar looks like:
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE Private Sector Holiday Dates
| Date | Occasion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sat-Sun, May 23-24 | Weekend | Regular days off |
| Mon, May 25 | — | Regular working day for private sector employees Holiday for federal government employees |
| Tue, May 26 | Arafah Day | Paid public holiday |
| Wed-Fri, May 27-29 | Eid Al Adha | 3 paid public holidays |
| Sat-Sun, May 30-31 | Weekend | Regular days off |
| Mon, June 1 | — | Work resumes |
Public Sector vs. Private Sector
Federal government employees received an extra day - Monday, May 25 - giving them a 9-day break. That day isn't part of the private sector entitlement. If you want to match it, one day of annual leave on Monday, 25 May, gets you there!
What Are UAE Private Sector Employees Entitled To? (MoHRE Rules)
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (the UAE Labour Law), these four days are a fully protected legal entitlement. Here are a few key things every employee should know:
1. Can my employer deduct Eid holidays from my annual leave?
No. Public holidays are a separate entitlement. Your employer cannot offset them against your leave balance.
2. What if my employer asks me to work on a public holiday?
They must give you either a substitute day off, or your regular daily wage plus a minimum 50% premium on top of your basic pay. One of the two is mandatory, not optional.
3. What if my employer offers neither?
You can file a complaint directly with MoHRE at mohre.gov.ae or call 800 60.
4. I work in a free zone. Do these rules apply to me?
Most UAE free zones typically align with federal public holiday dates, though employees should still check official HR announcements.
Suggestions to Maximize Your Eid Al Adha 2026 Break
1. Book travel today – Eid is peak season
Six days is a real travel window - enough to leave the country, actually ‘detox’, and come back without feeling like the trip was a blur. Flights out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi fill up fast once the holiday is confirmed, and prices across Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia move quickly.
- Under 4 hours: Amman, Muscat, Colombo, Bangkok, Istanbul, Baku
- Worth the longer flight: London, Kuala Lumpur, Zanzibar (book the outbound Thursday or Friday evening to beat the Eid rush)
Staying in the UAE? Dubai and Abu Dhabi hotels offer Eid staycation packages. Book before the holiday starts for the best rates.
2. Take Monday, May 25 as annual leave
One day of leave turns your 6-day break into 9, matching what government employees get. If this is on your mind, submit the request today. You won't be the only one with that idea.
3. Plan around the Eid rush
Wednesday, May 27 would most likely be the first day of Eid Al Adha, and would be the busiest day of the holiday. Expect heavier traffic around mosques, airports, and border crossings during the Eid period.
Transport authorities across the UAE typically announce revised public transport timings, parking rules, and service schedules during Eid. In Dubai, check RTA updates; in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and other emirates, check the respective local transport or municipality announcements closer to the holiday.
4. Clear your admin before Friday, 22 May
Banks and government service centres operate on reduced hours or close over public holidays. Renewals, visa paperwork, or transactions due around this time should be completed before Friday, 22 May.
What Is Eid Al Adha? (For New UAE Residents)
Eid Al Adha, the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ is one of the most important religious holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world, including in the UAE.
Eid Al Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. In remembrance of this, Muslims perform the ritual sacrifice of livestock and share the meat with family, friends, and those in need. The culture of generosity and giving is all the more evident in the Gulf countries, and new UAE residents will experience this.
The Eid Al Adha period is closely connected to the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, one of the five pillars of Islam. Arafah Day (May 26 this year), observed just before Eid Al Adha, is considered one of the holiest days in Islam and marks the most important day of the entire Hajj pilgrimage, when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafah for prayer, with many fasting on the day.
Eid Al Adha (May 27) follows the Day of Arafah.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha falls on Wed, May 27 this year. The period of festivities and holidays runs from Wed, 27 May to Fri, 29 May. Arafah Day (the day before Eid) is Tue, 26 May.
2. How many days off do UAE private sector employees get for Eid Al Adha 2026?
Four paid days, from May 26 (Arafah Day) plus three days of Eid (27-29 May) as confirmed by MoHRE on 18 May 2026.
3. When did MoHRE announce the Eid Al Adha 2026 private sector holiday?
MoHRE issued the official circular on 18 May 2026, following the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon sighting on 17 May 2026. Dhul Hijjah is the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
4. Do private sector employees get the same days off as government employees?
Not this year. Public sector employees received 5 days (25-29 May), giving them a 9-day break when combined with weekends on either side. Private sector employees receive 4 days (26-29 May), making it a 6-day break when combined with the May 30-31 weekend.
5. Can I be forced to work during Eid Al Adha?
Your employer can require you to work during Eid Al Adha if business needs demand it. However, under Article 28 of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, they must compensate you either with a substitute day off or with your normal daily wage plus at least 50% of your basic salary for that day.
6. When does work resume after Eid Al Adha 2026?
Work resumes for both public and private sector employees on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Summary
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Your paid days off | Tue, May 26 - Fri, May 29 (4 days) (Mon, May 25 is a holiday for federal government employees, totaling 5 days) |
| Full break with weekend | Tue, May 26 - Sun, May 31 (6 days) For federal government employees: Sat, May 23 - Sun, May 31 (9 days) |
| Want 9 days? | Take Mon, May 25 as annual leave |
| Work resumes | Mon, June 1 |
| If asked to work | Substitute day off or +50% pay (Mandatory) |
| Governing law | Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 |
Eid Mubarak. You've earned the break - make it a good one!
Sources: MoHRE official circular, 18 May 2026 | FAHR announcement | UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 | Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021
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