UAE Public Sector Employees to Get Five Day Eid Al Adha Holiday in 2026
Government workers will enjoy a five day break from May 25 to May 29, which could stretch into a nine day holiday when combined with the weekend.
The United Arab Emirates has officially announced the Eid Al Adha holiday schedule for public sector employees in 2026. According to the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, the break will run from Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29.
When paired with the regular Saturday and Sunday weekend, many employees could enjoy up to nine straight days off before returning to work on Monday, June 1.
Eid Al Adha marks one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar and coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage, during which millions of Muslims travel to Makkah in Saudi Arabia to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.
The exact dates depend on the official moon sighting for Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. The moon sighting committee is scheduled to meet on May 17 to observe the crescent moon.
Astronomical calculations indicate that Dhul Hijjah is likely to begin on Monday, May 18. If confirmed, Arafah Day would fall on Tuesday, May 26, followed by the first day of Eid Al Adha on Wednesday, May 27.
However, if the moon is not sighted on May 17, Dhul Hijjah would start one day later on May 19, shifting all subsequent dates by 24 hours.
Earlier astronomical forecasts from the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology also support Wednesday, May 27 as the probable first day of Eid Al Adha in the UAE.