Looking to plan your trip to Abu Dhabi around UAE public holidays? Here’s a guide to what to expect in 2026:
- New Year’s Day: 1 January 2026 (1 day)
- Eid Al Fitr: From the last day of the Islamic month of Ramadan to 3 Shawwal* (approx. 20 to 22 March 2026 – 3 days)
- Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice): From 9 to 12 Dhu al Hijjah* (approx. 26 to 29 May 2026 – 4 days)
- Hijri New Year: 1 Muharram* Approx. 6 June 2026 – date of observation may differ, likely to be Monday 15 Jun – 1 day)
- The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday: Approx. 25 August c2026 – not always a public holiday
- Commemoration Day: 1 December 2026 – not always a public holiday
- Eid al Etihad (55th National Day): 2 and 3 December 2026 (2 days)
Jump back to Previous Years: Abu Dhabi Public Holidays 2024 – Abu Dhabi Public Holidays 2025
*Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sightings. The date a religious holiday is observed and the public holiday declared may be two different dates, particularly if it falls on a weekend, Friday – Sunday.
Note that the weekend in the UAE changed as of 1 January 2022; government working hours are now Monday through Friday at lunchtime, and the weekend is Friday afternoon through Sunday.
Hijri Calendar to Gregorian Calendar
The Hijri Calendar moves forward by approximately ten days more than the Gregorian Calendar every year. There is a good translation tool here from IslamicFinder.org to understand when important days on the Hijri Calendar will translate to:
Prayer Times in Abu Dhabi
You can also check out our guide here to the daily prayer times in Abu Dhabi. There isn’t much you need to do as a non-Muslim tourist at prayer times, but it has some great tips on understanding exactly WHAT is happening and WHY.
You can use this tool to see when daily prayer times are due to occur in Abu Dhabi:
Abu Dhabi School Holidays 2026
Abu Dhabi has a public school sector (Ministry of Education – Emirati only) and a private school sector (for international students). In July 2025, the MoE overhauled the academic calendar for ALL schools in the UAE with a September start date, so all schools will now have the same term breaks.
The dates for the 2025-26 academic year are as follows:
- Term 1 Mid-Term Break: 13 to 17 October 2025
- Winter Break: 6 December to 4 January 2026
- Term 2 Mid-Term Break: 16 to 19 February 2026
- Spring Break: 14 March to 29 March 2026 (Inclusive of Eid-al-Fitr*)
- Term 3 Mid-Term Break: 26 to 29 May 2026 (inclusive of Eid-al-Adha*)
- Summer Break: From 4 July 2026
*Subject to Moon Sighting and formally announced by the Government.
Other Major Events in Abu Dhabi & the UAE 2026
Here’s what’s already lined up for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Events Calendar:
- Sheikh Zayed Festival – Runs throughout winter, mid-November to Ramadan in Al Wathba
- Middle East Film and Comic Con – 10-12 April 2026
- Ramadan – the Holy Month from approx. 17 February to 20 March 2026 – not a public holiday but a month-long religious observance
- Diwali – 8 November 2026 – with a large Indian expat community, the event is widely celebrated in the UAE
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – 4-6 December 2026
- Mother of the Nation Festival – dates for 2026 TBC – previously late November in the regions and Abu Dhabi city in December.
- Christmas – 25 December 2026 – not a public holiday but widely observed within the retail and hospitality sector
- New Year’s Eve – 31 December 2026 – always a spectacular night of fireworks and festivities not to be missed
We still await finalized dates for several popular Emirates Heritage Festivals, which are a great immersive way to learn more about Emirati culture.
Before you go… Important things to consider when planning a trip to Abu Dhabi
- Pop into our essential planning information page; it includes everything you need to know about getting around Abu Dhabi, a handy guide on what to pack and top tips for first-timers on the dos and don’ts, laws, and customs in the UAE.
- Start planning your itinerary around the 60+ top places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!
- Discover the best places to stay in Abu Dhabi.
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Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our hotel or tour recommendation links.
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