UAE Public Holidays & Seasonal Planner

Planning ahead in the UAE isn’t just about marking a few red dates on your calendar — it’s about unlocking long weekends, family getaways, mega shopping festivals, and cultural highlights that define life here. Whether you’re an expat booking staycations, a family looking at school breaks, or a foodie waiting for the next citywide festival, this is your complete year-round planner for 2025/26.

👉 Bookmark this page — WOW-Emirates will keep it updated with official holidays, confirmed long weekends, festivals, and seasonal attractions as they’re announced.

📆 UAE What’s On — Month by Month

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Official UAE Public Holidays 2025/26

Here’s the official list of UAE public holidays for 2025/26. Some Islamic dates are based on moon sighting and will be confirmed closer to time.

UAE Public Holidays — 2025 and 2026

20252026
Jan 1 (Wed) — New Year’s Day Confirmed Jan 1 (Thu) — New Year’s Day Confirmed
Mar 30 – Apr 1 — Eid Al Fitr Confirmed ~Mar 19 – 22 — Eid Al Fitr TBC (predicted)
Jun 5 (Thu) — Arafat Day Confirmed ~May 25 (Mon) — Arafat Day TBC
Jun 6 – 8 — Eid Al Adha Confirmed ~May 26 – 28 — Eid Al Adha TBC
Jun 27 (Fri) — Hijri New Year Confirmed ~Jun 16 (Tue) — Hijri New Year TBC
Sep 5 (Fri) — Prophet’s Birthday Confirmed ~Aug 25 (Tue) — Prophet’s Birthday TBC
Dec 1 (Mon) — Commemoration Day Confirmed Dec 1 (Tue) — Commemoration Day Confirmed
Dec 2 – 3 (Tue–Wed) — UAE National Day Confirmed Dec 2 – 3 (Wed–Thu) — UAE National Day Confirmed

2026 Islamic holidays remain provisional (moon sighting required).

Long Weekends in the UAE

Long weekends are your chance to escape the routine. From desert resorts to quick trips abroad, here’s where to mark your calendars.

UAE Public Holidays — 2025 and 2026

2025 — Long Weekend Highlights2026 — Long Weekend Highlights (Projected)
  • Eid Al Fitr (Sun–Tue, Mar 30–Apr 1) — bridge Sat for 4-day
  • Arafat + Eid Al Adha (Thu–Sun, Jun 5–8) — official 4-day
  • Hijri New Year (Fri, Jun 27) — natural 3-day
  • Prophet’s Birthday (Fri, Sep 5) — natural 3-day
  • National Day (Tue–Wed, Dec 2–3) — add Mon or Thu for 4-day
  • Eid Al Fitr (~Thu–Sun, Mar 19–22) — likely 4-day
  • Arafat + Eid Al Adha (~Mon–Thu, May 25–28) — 4-day (mid-week)
  • Hijri New Year (~Tue, Jun 16) — add Mon/Wed for 3-day
  • Prophet’s Birthday (~Tue, Aug 25) — add Mon/Wed for 3-day
  • National Day (Wed–Thu, Dec 2–3) — rolls into weekend for 4-day
3-day = Fri–Sun or equivalent long weekend   |   4-day = Thu–Sun, Wed–Sat or bridge with leave

UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday. Islamic holidays finalized by moon sighting; 2026 dates are projections.

💡 WOW-Emirates Expert Tip: National Day and Eid weekends sell out weeks in advance — book staycations early for the best deals.

School & Academic Calendar 2025/26

Parents, this section’s for you. The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) has set the framework for schools, while KHDA schools in Dubai follow similar dates.

🎒 School & Academic Calendar — 2025/26 (UAE)

MoE framework + KHDA private schools. Dates may vary by curriculum (IB/IGCSE/CBSE) — confirm with your school.

Term 1

Term

Start: Sep 2025 • End: Dec 2025

  • Settling-in weeks & orientation
  • Mid-term break (school-specific)
  • National Day activities (Dec)

Winter Break

Break

~ Mid Dec 2025 → Early Jan 2026

  • Great for staycations & travel
  • Some schools run winter camps

Term 2

Term

Start: Jan 2026 • End: Mar 2026

  • Key assessments begin
  • Ramadan adjustments (if applicable)

Spring Break

Break

~ Late Mar → Early Apr 2026

  • Aligns with Eid Al Fitr window some years
  • Peak family travel period

Term 3

Term

Start: Apr 2026 • End: Jun 2026

  • Final assessments & year-end events
  • Graduations (FS2/Year 13/Grade 12)

Exam Season

Key Period

~ May – Jun 2026

  • IB / A-Levels / IGCSE / CBSE boards
  • Reduced trips & activities

Summer Break

Break

~ Late Jun → Aug 2026

  • Summer camps & travel
  • Admissions & transfers window

Important Notes

Read
  • MoE vs KHDA: frameworks align; exact dates may vary by school.
  • Ramadan Hours: shortened school days, exam timetables can shift.
  • Islamic Holidays: based on moon-sighting (confirm close to date).

Tip: Book travel early for Winter & Spring breaks; popular camps and staycations sell out quickly.

Major Festivals & Citywide Activations

Public holidays aren’t the only highlights. Dubai and the UAE are home to some of the world’s biggest citywide festivals.

🇦🇪 Major Festivals & Public Celebrations

From Islamic holidays to multicultural celebrations, here’s what to expect across the UAE calendar. Click through for detailed guides (coming soon).

🎉 Citywide Activations & Government-led Campaigns

Annual shopping, culture, food, and wellness activations that light up the UAE calendar. Click through for detailed guides (coming soon).

Seasonal Attractions & Experiences

The UAE is famous for seasonal attractions that align perfectly with holidays and breaks.

🌟 Seasonal Attractions & Cultural Events

From flower gardens to heritage festivals — here are the UAE’s must-see seasonal events. Click any item for detailed guides (coming soon).

🏛️ Exhibitions & Conferences (UAE)

Business tourism pillars across Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah. Click through for full guides (coming soon).

Coming Soon: Holiday Offers & Events

As official announcements roll in, WOW-Emirates will list the best staycations, brunches, family activities, and shopping deals for each holiday and festival.

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