UAE National Day 2026 Holiday: Dates and Who Gets Time Off

When is the UAE National Day holiday in 2026?

For federal government employees the 2026 holiday runs from Wednesday 2 December to Friday 4 December, with official working hours resuming on Monday 7 December ^[1][4]. The UAE Government Media Office announced the dates on 13 November 2026 ^[1], and the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) announced the same dates for federal ministries and entities ^[4][9].

Because federal offices are closed on Saturday and Sunday, the three holiday days plus the weekend make a five-day break from 2 to 6 December ^[1].

For the private sector, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) declared Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026 an official paid holiday for all employees across the country ^[3][4]. The announcement came on Friday 13 November ^[2].

The holiday marks the 55th Eid Al Etihad, the anniversary of the federation's founding on 2 December 1971 ^[1][2]. In everyday English it is called UAE National Day; official announcements call the holiday Eid Al Etihad.

Who gets time off for Eid Al Etihad 2026?

Federal government employees get three days (2-4 December), private-sector employees get two paid days (2-3 December), and staff of individual emirate governments follow their own government's circular ^[1][3][8].

Federal government

The federal announcement covers employees of federal ministries and federal entities ^[4]. Their holiday is Wednesday to Friday, and they return on Monday 7 December ^[1].

Private sector

MoHRE's decision applies to "all employees in the private sector across the UAE" and the days are paid ^[3]. The announcement is not limited to one emirate ^[3].

Emirate governments

Local government departments may publish their own holiday notice. In 2025, for example, the Sharjah Department of Human Resources announced its staff's Eid Al Etihad holiday on 17 November, separately from any federal announcement ^[8]. As of 13 November 2026, readers working for a local government should wait for their own department's circular rather than assume the federal dates.

Schools and shift workers

Staff on rosters, such as shift workers, should follow their employer's notice, and private-sector staff who are rostered on a holiday have rights under the labour law (see below) ^[7].

Is 4 December a holiday for the private sector?

Not officially. For the private sector, the announced paid holiday is Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December only; Friday 4 December is not part of it, so ask your employer about that day ^[2][3].

Gulf News notes that employees whose weekend is Saturday and Sunday can take Friday 4 December as annual leave to get five consecutive days off, returning on Monday 7 December ^[2].

This matches the government's standing list of public holidays, which gives National Day as "2 and 3 December (2 days)" for both the public and private sectors ^[5]. The extra federal day on 4 December is a separate decision for federal employees ^[1].

Employers may of course give more. If you are not sure whether your workplace is open on the Friday, ask HR in writing and keep the reply.

What if I have to work on UAE National Day?

Under Article 28 of the UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021), a private-sector employer who needs you to work on a public holiday must give you another day off for each day worked, or pay that day's wage plus at least 50% of your basic wage ^[7].

Gulf News quotes the article: the worker is entitled to official days off with full pay on public holidays, and if work requires them to work, the employer "shall compensate him with another day off for each day, or pay him the wage for that day plus an increase of not less than 50 per cent of the basic wage for that day" ^[7].

Practical steps:

1. Check your rota early and ask HR which option (day off or extra pay) will apply.
2. Keep a record of the days you worked on 2 and 3 December.
3. If you are not compensated, raise it with your employer first; if unresolved, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation handles private-sector labour complaints ^[7].

Annual leave has its own rule: public holidays that fall inside a period of annual leave count as part of that leave, unless your contract or company policy is more generous ^[6]. So if you booked 1 to 5 December as annual leave, 2 and 3 December may be counted as leave days rather than added on top, depending on your contract.

This section summarises the published rules; it is not legal advice for an individual case.

How to plan travel over the Eid Al Etihad long weekend

The five-day federal break (2-6 December) and the option for private-sector staff to add Friday 4 December as leave make this a long weekend worth planning for ^[1][2].

• Book early. Compare refundable fares if your leave is not yet approved.
• Check in online and allow extra time at the airport.
• Confirm leave first. Private-sector staff should get written approval for 4 December before paying for non-refundable trips ^[2].
• Watch for official notices. Look for parking, public transport and road notices from your emirate's authorities closer to the date; none were found in the sources used here.
• Documents. Residents travelling abroad should check that passports and residence permits are valid well beyond the return date.

For anyone staying in the country, nationwide celebrations are planned, and families and communities are encouraged to take part. This year's Eid Al Etihad falls in the UAE's Year of Family and uses the theme of the country as a "family of families" ^[1].

Why is 2 December the UAE National Day?

2 December marks the founding of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, when six emirates united in one federation; Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972, completing the seven ^[2].

The government portal describes National Day as marking the start of the federal unification of the emirates in 1971 ^[5]. 2026 is the 55th anniversary, so official announcements call it the 55th Eid Al Etihad ^[1][3].

The rule that fixes the dates is Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 Concerning the Public Holidays in the State. According to the portal, Article 3 of that resolution says a public holiday cannot be moved to another day if it coincides with another holiday or falls on a weekend ^[5]. In 2026 both dates fall on weekdays, so the question does not arise.

Other UAE public holidays in the same official list include Gregorian New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet's birthday, with Islamic dates set by moon sighting ^[5].

What to check before 2 December

The federal and private-sector dates are confirmed as of 13 November 2026; what can still change is your own employer's or local government's arrangement ^[1][3][8].

Before the holiday:

• Read your employer's circular and confirm whether your workplace closes on 4 December.
• If you work for an emirate-level department, look for its own announcement ^[8].
• If you are rostered to work, agree the compensation in advance ^[7].
• Keep travel bookings flexible until leave is approved.

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