Hey Raha blog · Dubai school life
UAE Public Holidays 2027: The Full List, and What It Means for School
The UAE has six public holidays in 2027: New Year's Day (Friday 1 January), Eid Al Fitr (expected 9 to 11 March, or 9 to 12 March if Ramadan lasts 30 days), Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha (expected 15 to 18 May), Hijri New Year (expected 6 June), the Prophet's Birthday (expected 14 August) and Eid Al Etihad, National Day (2 and 3 December). Only New Year's Day and National Day are fixed. The Islamic holidays depend on the moon sighting and will be confirmed nearer each date.
Last updated: 20 October 2026. We'll update this page as each date is announced.
The holiday list itself is set in law. What changes every year is where the Islamic dates land, and in 2027 three of them fall in school term.
UAE public holidays 2027 at a glance
| Holiday | 2027 date | Days | Confirmed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | 1 | Fixed date |
| Eid Al Fitr | Expected Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 March, or Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March | 3 or 4 | Expected, depends on moon sighting |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Expected Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May | 4 | Expected, depends on moon sighting |
| Hijri (Islamic) New Year | Expected Sunday 6 June | 1 | Expected, depends on moon sighting |
| Prophet Muhammad's Birthday | Expected Saturday 14 August | 1 | Expected, depends on moon sighting |
| Eid Al Etihad (National Day) | Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December | 2 | Fixed dates |
Expected dates are from Gulf News and Khaleej Times, based on the UAE's Astronomy Centre. Unconfirmed: the government hasn't announced the 2027 Islamic holiday dates yet. It usually confirms each one shortly before it falls.
About Eid Al Fitr. Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday 8 February 2027. If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid starts on Tuesday 9 March and the holiday is 9 to 11 March. If it lasts 30 days, the 30th day of Ramadan (9 March) becomes a holiday too, Eid starts on 10 March, and the holiday runs 9 to 12 March.
About Arafah and Eid Al Adha. Khaleej Times reports the Astronomy Centre expects Arafah on 15 or 16 May and Eid Al Adha on 16 or 17 May. The 15 to 18 May span is the most likely one, but it can shift by a day.
How UAE public holidays are set
The list comes from Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, in force since 1 January 2025, and applies to both the public and private sectors. The UAE government portal lists:
- New Year's Day, 1 January
- Eid Al Fitr, 1 to 3 Shawwal, plus 30 Ramadan if Ramadan lasts 30 days
- Arafah Day, 9 Dhul Hijjah
- Eid Al Adha, 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah
- Hijri New Year, 1 Muharram
- Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, 12 Rabi Al Awwal
- National Day, 2 and 3 December
Under Article 3 of the resolution, a holiday can't be moved to another day if it falls on a weekend or on another public holiday. Khaleej Times reports that the Cabinet can move most other holidays to the start or end of the week by decision, but not Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha.
Which 2027 UAE public holidays fall in school term
For schools on the UAE's unified 2026-27 calendar (Dubai's September-start private schools included):
| Holiday | In term or in a break? |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day, 1 January | In the winter break (14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) |
| Eid Al Fitr, expected 9 to 12 March | In term. The Ministry of Education's calendar for its own curriculum schools lists an Eid holiday of 8 to 12 March 2027 |
| Arafah and Eid Al Adha, expected 15 to 18 May | In term. The Ministry's calendar lists 15 to 18 May 2027 |
| Hijri New Year, expected 6 June | Falls on a Sunday. The Ministry's calendar lists 6 June 2027 |
| Prophet's Birthday, expected 14 August | In the summer holiday. The 2027-28 school year starts on Monday 30 August 2027 |
| National Day, 2 and 3 December | In term 1 of 2027-28, a Thursday and Friday, so a four-day weekend |
KHDA says Dubai private school calendars show public holidays as tentative until the official announcement. So your school will confirm each one by email, usually only days ahead.
Eid closures and "school will reopen on..." emails always arrive late.
Hey Raha reads your school emails and WhatsApps you and your helper the updated plan as soon as the school confirms.
Try Hey Raha free for 14 daysLong weekends in the UAE in 2027
On the expected dates:
- New Year: Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January, three days.
- Eid Al Fitr: Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 March would be six days if Ramadan lasts 30 days. If it lasts 29 days, the holiday is Tuesday to Thursday, and Friday is a normal working day unless the government says otherwise.
- Arafah and Eid Al Adha: Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, four days including the weekend.
- National Day: Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December, four days.
Hijri New Year (Sunday 6 June) and the Prophet's Birthday (Saturday 14 August) are expected to fall on weekends in 2027. Because the resolution says holidays falling on a weekend aren't moved, they're unlikely to give an extra day off.
What isn't a public holiday in the UAE
- Commemoration Day (30 November) isn't on the public holiday list. In 2027 it's a Tuesday. Schools usually mark it in assemblies.
- UAE Flag Day (3 November) is a celebration, not a day off. Our Flag Day and National Day school guide covers what schools ask you to send.
- School-only closures such as staff training days or a February break are set by each school, not by the public holiday list. Our Dubai school holidays 2026-27 guide has the term dates. See February half-term and spring break 2027.
Planning 2027 around the moon sighting in the UAE
- Keep Eid weeks flexible. Book refundable where you can for 8 to 12 March and 15 to 18 May.
- Watch for the announcement the evening before. The moon-sighting committee meets on the 29th of the Hijri month, so Eid can be confirmed less than a day ahead.
- Agree public holidays with your helper in advance. Put it in writing so nobody is guessing on Eid morning. You can add it to your nanny briefing template. See what UAE law says about helper rest days and leave.
For school dates in the same view, use our printable UAE school calendar and the UAE term dates guide.
UAE public holidays 2027 FAQ
What are the UAE public holidays in 2027?
New Year's Day (1 January), Eid Al Fitr (expected 9 to 11 or 9 to 12 March), Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha (expected 15 to 18 May), Hijri New Year (expected 6 June), the Prophet's Birthday (expected 14 August) and National Day (2 and 3 December). The Islamic dates depend on the moon sighting.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2027 in the UAE?
It's expected to start on Tuesday 9 March 2027 if Ramadan lasts 29 days, or Wednesday 10 March if it lasts 30 days. Either way, the public holiday is expected to begin on 9 March, because the 30th day of Ramadan becomes a holiday if the month is complete.
When is Eid Al Adha 2027 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha is expected on Sunday 16 or Monday 17 May 2027, with Arafah Day the day before. The holiday is expected to run from 15 to 18 May, subject to the moon sighting.
Is National Day 2027 a long weekend in the UAE?
Yes. National Day holidays are Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December 2027, so with the weekend it's a four-day break from 2 to 5 December.
Do Dubai schools close on UAE public holidays?
Yes, public holidays apply to schools, but Dubai private school calendars show them as tentative until the official announcement. In 2027, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha both fall in term time, so expect your school to confirm closure dates by email.
Is Commemoration Day a public holiday in the UAE?
No. Commemoration Day on 30 November isn't on the UAE public holiday list under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
A little help from Hey Raha
Eid confirmations land the night before. Hey Raha reads your school emails, read-only, and sends you and your helper one clear daily plan on WhatsApp. 14 days free, no card needed, then AED 39 a month or AED 299 a year.
Start freeMarie, founder of Hey Raha
Sources for this UAE guide
- UAE government portal, Public holidays: u.ae/en/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays
- UAE Legislation, Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 Concerning the Public Holidays in the State: uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2595
- Gulf News, UAE public holidays 2027: Full list of expected dates and long weekends, updated 10 September 2026: gulfnews.com
- Khaleej Times, When will UAE celebrate Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha in 2027?, 22 August 2026: khaleejtimes.com
- Khaleej Times, UAE holidays 2027: Possible 6-day break, multiple long weekends expected, updated 30 August 2026: khaleejtimes.com
- UAE Ministry of Education, Academic Calendar 2026-2027 (PDF, Arabic): moe.gov.ae (PDF)
- UAE Ministry of Education, academic calendar for the next three years: moe.gov.ae
- KHDA, Academic calendar for Dubai's private schools: web.khda.gov.ae
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