DUBAI: UAE residents now looking ahead to Islamic New Year 2026 as next public holiday after Eid Al Adha break.
With the Eid Al Adha holidays concluding across the UAE, residents and expatriate workers are now turning attention to the next official day off on the 2026 public holiday calendar, with Islamic New Year expected to become the country’s next nationwide holiday.
Searches for terms including “Islamic New Year 2026 UAE”, “UAE holidays 2026”, “public holidays UAE 2026” and “next holiday in UAE” have surged following the end of the Eid Al Adha break, as employees, families and travel planners begin assessing upcoming long weekends and leave opportunities.
Current projections indicate that the Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year or Al Hijra, is expected to fall on either June 16 or June 17, 2026, depending on official moon-sighting confirmations. UAE authorities are expected to announce the final holiday date closer to the occasion.
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Islamic New Year 2026 expected to become next UAE public holiday
The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
The occasion commemorates the historic migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madinah, an event regarded as one of the most significant moments in Islamic history.
Under the UAE’s federal public holiday framework, Hijri New Year is recognised as an official paid holiday for both public and private sector employees.
Current holiday forecasts place the occasion on Tuesday, June 16, or Wednesday, June 17, 2026, although the exact date remains subject to lunar observations and official confirmation.
UAE holiday transfer rules could affect final Islamic New Year break
Residents are also closely monitoring whether the holiday could be moved under the UAE’s public holiday transfer mechanism.
Federal regulations allow certain public holidays to be shifted to the beginning or end of the working week through Cabinet decisions, creating longer weekend breaks in some circumstances.
Several local reports have suggested that if Islamic New Year officially falls mid-week, authorities could potentially apply the transfer rule, although no such decision has been announced for 2026.
UAE public holidays 2026 calendar shows several major breaks still ahead
Although the Eid Al Adha holidays represented one of the longest breaks of the year, several official holidays remain on the UAE calendar for 2026.
Current projected dates include:
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday expected in August 2026
The Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH), also known as Mawlid Al Nabi, is expected to fall on August 25, 2026, although the date remains subject to moon sighting and official confirmation.
UAE National Day holidays scheduled for December
The UAE National Day holidays are currently expected to fall on December 2 and December 3, creating one of the final major public holiday periods of the year.
National Day remains among the country’s most widely celebrated occasions, marked by nationwide festivities, fireworks displays, cultural programmes and tourism events.
UAE residents increasingly planning leave around public holiday dates
Holiday planning has become increasingly important for UAE residents as international travel demand, airline bookings and hotel occupancy levels continue rising around major public holidays.
Travel operators frequently witness sharp increases in outbound and domestic tourism bookings following the announcement of official holiday dates.
Employment specialists also note that many workers coordinate annual leave schedules around public holidays to maximise extended breaks throughout the year.
Islamic New Year remains one of the UAE’s officially recognised religious holidays
Unlike Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, Islamic New Year is generally observed more quietly across the UAE.
However, the occasion remains a significant date on the Islamic calendar and is recognised as a federal public holiday under UAE legislation governing official holidays.
The UAE Cabinet’s public holiday framework lists Muharram 1, marking Hijri New Year, among the country’s officially recognised annual holidays for both government and private sector employees.
Interest in UAE holidays has continued growing in recent years as residents increasingly monitor public holiday calendars to plan travel, staycations, family gatherings and annual leave arrangements months in advance.
