UAE National Day 2026, Eid Al Etihad, falls on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December, and this year the calendar is doing you a big favour. Take three days of annual leave and you get nine days off in a row.
This is our single, always-updated guide to National Day in Dubai: the holiday dates, how to stretch them, where the city celebrates and the offers worth booking. We add new offers as hotels and restaurants confirm them, so check back.
When is UAE National Day 2026?
Eid Al Etihad 2026 is on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December, marking the 55th anniversary of the UAE. Both days are on the official 2026 public holiday calendar for the public and private sectors. The UAE Cabinet can still move public holidays closer to the weekend, so watch for a final confirmation in late November before you book anything non-refundable.
How to get 9 days off for UAE National Day 2026
Because the holiday lands midweek, a little annual leave goes a long way. Here is the maths, based on a Saturday and Sunday weekend.
| Leave days | Which days | Time off | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Fri 4 Dec | Wed 2 to Sun 6 Dec | 5 days off |
| 2 days | Mon 30 Nov and Tue 1 Dec | Sat 28 Nov to Thu 3 Dec | 6 days off |
| 3 days | Mon 30 Nov, Tue 1 Dec and Fri 4 Dec | Sat 28 Nov to Sun 6 Dec | 9 days off |
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: If your office works a half day on Fridays, the one-day option costs you even less. Put the leave request in now, though. Every expat in Dubai has seen the same calendar, and annual leave for 30 November to 4 December will be the most fought-over week in the office.
Where Dubai celebrates National Day
Dubai’s 2026 programme is still being announced. Going by recent years, these are the places to watch, and we will add confirmed dates, times and prices as they come in.
- Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain, Downtown Dubai: the tower lights up in the UAE flag colours and the fountain plays national songs on the holiday evenings.
- Global Village, Dubailand: National Day usually brings fireworks, Emirati performances and a heritage programme across the park.
- Expo City Dubai: recent years have brought shows under Al Wasl Dome.
- Al Shindagha and Al Fahidi, Bur Dubai: heritage activities, traditional crafts and Emirati food in the old town.
- Hatta: the mountain enclave fills up on the long weekend, so book cabins and kayaks early.
Planning to leave town instead? Our guide to the best Eid Al Etihad long weekend getaways from Dubai covers easy flights and drives.
UAE National Day 2026 offers in Dubai
Hotels and restaurants usually announce their National Day deals from mid-November, and the classic format is a menu or room rate built around the number of the anniversary. This year that means 55: watch for AED 55 set menus and 55% discounts. We list every confirmed Dubai offer here as soon as it lands.
Booking a staycation for the long weekend? Prices climb fast once leave is approved, so lock in a refundable rate now and switch to a deal later if a better one appears.
More to plan around the long weekend
The National Day break comes straight after Thanksgiving on 26 November, so if you are hosting, our Thanksgiving in Dubai guide has the turkey takeaways. For the rest of the year’s days off, see our UAE public holiday calendar 2026, and if the kids are in tow, our list of kids go free offers in Dubai keeps the budget in check.
Frequently asked questions
UAE National Day, Eid Al Etihad, is on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. It marks the 55th anniversary of the UAE, and both days are public holidays for the public and private sectors.
The official holiday is two days, 2 and 3 December. Take Friday 4 December as leave and you get five days off from Wednesday to Sunday. Take Monday 30 November, Tuesday 1 December and Friday 4 December and you get nine days off, from Saturday 28 November to Sunday 6 December.
Yes. Since 2023 the UAE has used one public holiday calendar for the public and private sectors, and Eid Al Etihad on 2 and 3 December is on it. Check with your employer if you work shifts or in an essential service.
The UAE Cabinet can move public holidays to the start or end of the week. The official dates for 2026 are 2 and 3 December, and any change would be announced by the government before the holiday.
Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain, Global Village, Expo City Dubai and the heritage districts of Al Shindagha and Al Fahidi usually host the biggest National Day celebrations in Dubai. The 2026 programme is being announced through November.
It is the 55th UAE National Day. The UAE was founded on 2 December 1971.
Last updated: 31 October 2026. Dates, prices and offers come from the venues and can change. Check with the venue before you book.
