Official UAE Private Sector Eid Holiday 2026 Confirmed – Full Dates, Paid Leave Rules & Office Reopening Schedules

The UAE has officially announced the timetable for Eid Al Adha 2026 private sector holiday, providing a much-needed extended holiday for the millions of employees across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Northern Emirates. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has completed the paid leave calendar for all private firms in the UAE.

The official holiday runs from Tuesday 26th May 2026 through to Friday 29th May 2026. The Eid holidays overlap straight with the regular UAE Saturday-Sunday weekend, meaning that for the UAE private sector, the holidays will likely be back-to-back, with work resumption on Monday, June 1, 2026.

The UAE will experience one of the busiest periods for travel and leisure throughout the year due to the alignment of Eid this year, with all airports, shopping malls, hotels and tourist destinations across the UAE getting ready for an increased influx of traffic.

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UAE Private Sector Eid Al Adha 2026 Holiday Dates

The official Eid Al Adha break is from the day of Arafat till the three days of eid. All UAE private sector establishments regulated by the UAE Labour Law are subject to the holiday timetable.

MoHRE Confirms Paid Leave Protection for Employees

For the purposes of the UAE Labour Law, government declared holidays are not covered by the annual vacation balance. This means that the employer can no longer reduce an employee’s vacation time for these Eid holidays.

The Ministry has also emphasized that Paid leave should be granted to all eligible persons during the designated holidays with full payment. Companies may not be decreasing the salaries paid to their employees or cutting back on allowances or asking employees to eat their holiday pay during Eid holidays.

This protection applies to all sectors and emirates under the jurisdiction of MoHRE, such as retail, hospitality, logistics, technology, healthcare and finance.

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What Happens If Employees Work During Eid?

Some areas may be permitted to run throughout and include facilities like hospitals, airports, hotels or hostels, rally centres, transport companies and retail outposts like malls. In such situations, UAE law stipulates that employers must provide compensation for their workers in certain legal ways.

Employers will have to offer one of the following:

• An alternative payday for each official holiday observed,
• The additional compensation is the employee’s regular compensation plus the at least 50% higher basic salary for breaks during the public holiday. 
• Untreated labor issues may lead to official labor disputes and penalties.

Important Advice for UAE Employees and Employers

Staff should double-check with their company’s official internal holiday memo as the arrangements for their work are subject to change, particularly when jobs are shift based.

It is advised that the business owners complete the payroll, WPS salary transfers and should finalize finances with suppliers before the last working day before the day of Eid, to not leave anyone without any earnings due to the extended closure period.

Those taking Eid should be mindful to schedule jobs ahead with written confirmation on the method of compensation to prevent confusion with regards to overtime payments or alternative compensation.

FAQs

What about the timings of Eid Al Adha 2026 in UAE?

Yes. After the official announcement of the moon sighting, the UAE has confirmed that Eid Al Adha 2026 will commence on Wednesday 27th May 2026.

How many days off will UAE private sector employees get?

For the private sector, there are 4 official paid vacations from May 26 to May 29, and the weekend will take its place, which will correspond to a 6-day vacation for most of the sector.

What is the time of the office resumption after the Eid?

Private sector offices in the UAE will open for business officially from 1st June 2026 (Monday).