UAE residents planning their 2027 holidays could get several opportunities to build longer breaks around public holidays, with the first three-day weekend arriving at the start of the year and a potential six-day break around Eid Al Fitr.
The UAE’s 2027 public holiday calendar includes New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year, the Prophet’s Birthday and Eid Al Etihad. Several of the dates are only estimates because Islamic holidays are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.
UAE public holidays 2027
The expected 2027 UAE public holidays are:
- New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1 — one day
- Eid Al Fitr: Tuesday, March 9 to Thursday, March 11, or Friday, March 12 if Ramadan lasts 30 days — three or four days
- Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha: Saturday, May 15 to Tuesday, May 18 — four days, subject to moon sighting
- Hijri New Year: Sunday, June 6 — one day, subject to moon sighting
- Prophet’s Birthday: Saturday, August 14 — one day, subject to moon sighting
- Eid Al Etihad: Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3 — two days
The dates for Islamic holidays should be treated as likely rather than confirmed, as the UAE’s Hijri calendar dates depend on crescent-moon sightings.
How many long weekends can UAE residents get in 2027?
The calendar offers several opportunities to combine annual leave with public holidays and weekends.
New Year’s Day falls on a Friday, giving residents a three-day weekend from Friday, January 1 through Sunday, January 3. Taking five days of annual leave at the beginning of the year could turn that into a 10-day break.
Eid Al Fitr could provide an even longer opportunity. If Ramadan lasts 29 days, the public holiday would run from Tuesday, March 9 to Thursday, March 11. Taking Monday, March 8 off would create a six-day break from Saturday, March 6 to Thursday, March 11.
If Ramadan lasts 30 days, Friday, March 12 would also be a public holiday. In that scenario, taking Monday, March 8 off could produce a nine-day break from Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 14.
For Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha, the expected four-day public holiday runs from Saturday, May 15 to Tuesday, May 18. Taking Wednesday, May 19 through Friday, May 21 off could extend the break to nine days, from Saturday, May 15 to Sunday, May 23.
The December Eid Al Etihad holiday is expected to produce a four-day weekend when combined with Saturday and Sunday. Taking Wednesday, December 1 off would extend the break to five days.
Which UAE public holidays are subject to moon sighting?
Islamic holidays in the UAE follow the Hijri calendar, so their Gregorian dates can shift depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Each Hijri month lasts either 29 or 30 days. Crescent-sighting committees meet on the 29th day to determine whether the new month begins the following day or whether the current month completes 30 days.
This is particularly significant for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday, February 8, 2027, based on astronomical calculations, but the precise dates of the associated holidays remain subject to the official determination.
The expected dates for Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are also subject to the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent.
Can UAE public holidays be moved?
Most UAE public holidays can be transferred if the UAE Cabinet decides to move them to the beginning or end of the week, potentially creating a longer break.
There are important exceptions.
The transfer rule does not apply to Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. In addition, under Article 3 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 concerning public holidays in the UAE, a public holiday cannot be transferred if it coincides with another public holiday.
A public holiday that falls on the UAE’s official weekend — Saturday or Sunday — also cannot be transferred to another day.
This matters in 2027 because Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are expected to begin on a Saturday, while Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday are expected to fall on Sunday and Saturday respectively.
Can employees be asked to work on UAE public holidays?
Public holidays are official paid leave for employees, but employers can require employees to work on a public holiday.
Where an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to either compensatory leave or their normal salary for the day plus an additional payment of at least 50 per cent of their basic salary, in accordance with Article 28(2) of the UAE Employment Law.
For employees planning trips around the 2027 holiday calendar, this distinction is important: a listed public holiday does not necessarily mean every employee will be off work.
When should residents book their 2027 holidays?
The biggest planning opportunities are around New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Etihad. Residents looking to travel can use the expected calendar to identify potential extended breaks before requesting annual leave.
However, Islamic holiday dates should not be treated as final until the relevant official announcements are made. Leave requests and travel bookings should therefore take that uncertainty into account.
With several potential long breaks on the calendar, planning early could also help residents secure leave approval and make travel and accommodation arrangements ahead of peak holiday periods.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
