Public Holidays and Working Hours in Dubai (2026)

Since January 2022, the UAE has followed a Monday-to-Friday working week, bringing it into line with global markets. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. This applies across Dubai and the wider UAE for both the public and private sectors.

For the public sector, offices work a full day Monday to Thursday and a shorter day on Friday, typically finishing around midday to allow time for Friday prayers. Government service counters and ministries follow this pattern.

The private sector has more flexibility. Most companies work Monday to Friday, and many treat Friday as a normal full working day. Some firms in retail, hospitality and construction operate six days a week or on rotating shifts, so your exact schedule depends on your employer and industry.

A standard office day in Dubai usually runs from around 9am to 6pm, with an hour for lunch. UAE labour law caps the working week at 48 hours, generally eight hours a day over a five or six-day week, though many white-collar roles work fewer.

Retail and mall hours are longer, often 10am to 10pm or later, with staff working shifts. Restaurants, hotels and leisure venues run late into the evening, especially at weekends.

Banks and many government-facing services keep shorter public hours, so it is worth checking opening times before you visit. During the hot summer months, some outdoor and construction work is subject to a mandatory midday break, when labour outdoors is paused during the hottest hours.

Two of the main holidays fall on fixed dates each year. New Year's Day is marked on 1 January, giving a single day off.

UAE National Day, also known as Eid al-Etihad, celebrates the founding of the union in 1971 and falls on 1 and 2 December. In practice it is often observed across 2 and 3 December, giving a two-day break, and it is one of the most festive periods of the year with fireworks, parades and displays across the city.

Commemoration Day, which honours Emiratis who have given their lives in service, has in recent years been marked around 30 November, close to National Day, and is confirmed in the official holiday calendar.

Most UAE public holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar, so their dates shift by roughly ten to eleven days earlier each year against the Gregorian calendar. The exact days are confirmed by the official moon-sighting committee, usually only one or two days in advance.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and typically brings a break of three to four days. In 2026 it is expected around mid to late March, but treat any specific date as provisional until the government confirms it.

Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, fall during the Hajj pilgrimage season and together usually give a longer break of several days, expected around late May in 2026. The Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year) is a single day, and the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi) is also a single day; both move with the lunar calendar and are confirmed closer to the time.

Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and has a noticeable effect on daily rhythm. By UAE labour law, working hours are reduced during Ramadan, commonly by around two hours a day, so a typical eight-hour day is shortened. This reduction applies to fasting and non-fasting employees alike in many workplaces.

Government offices and many businesses adjust their opening times, and some shops open later and close later. Restaurants may limit daytime service, though hotels and many food outlets continue to serve, and the city comes alive after sunset with iftar gatherings.

Ramadan itself is not a public holiday, but it leads directly into Eid al-Fitr. Because it follows the lunar calendar, its start date shifts each year and is confirmed by moon sighting shortly beforehand.

If you are moving to Dubai, buying property or scheduling business here, build the holiday calendar into your plans. Long weekends around Eid and National Day are popular for travel, so flights and hotels fill up and prices rise. Government offices and some private firms close, which can slow paperwork such as title transfers, visa steps or bank appointments.

Because the Islamic dates are only confirmed close to the time, keep a little flexibility in any deadline that depends on them. A meeting or completion set for the week of Eid may need to move if the holiday lands differently than expected.

For anything time-sensitive, check the latest official announcement rather than last year's dates. If you are handling a property purchase or sale around a holiday period, our team can help you sequence viewings, offers and paperwork so nothing stalls.