UAE National Day 2026: Holiday & How to Get 9 Days Off
nded Eid Al Etihad. Last checked: 5 Oct 2026. No transfer has been announced, but Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 allows these dates to be moved, so check again in mid-November. With three days of annual leave, the break can stretch to nine days.
If you live or work in the UAE, you’re probably already thinking about December. The dates matter for flights (fares climb early), for property deals that can’t wait on a holiday closure, and for planning time with family.
The baseline is simple: UAE National Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3. Everything else is detail worth getting right. Some calendars show moved dates, and others mention a separate “Commemoration Day” that may or may not be a paid day off. This guide clears that up with sourced, current information.
Ahead you’ll find the official dates, whether the private sector gets the holiday, whether there will be a long weekend, when a possible date change would be announced, how to turn two days off into up to nine, what’s happening for the celebrations, what elevated travel demand means for your budget, and what the holiday means for property transactions and short-term rentals in Dubai.
When Is UAE National Day 2026?
UAE National Day 2026 lands on Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3. Official calendars, including What’s On, list these as the current dates.
National Day is fixed to the Gregorian calendar. Unlike Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it doesn’t depend on moon sighting, so there’s no last-minute sighting announcement to wait for.
How Many Years Is UAE National Day 2026? (And Is It “Independence Day”?)
2026 marks the 55th UAE National Day (2026 minus 1971 = 55). The holiday commemorates 2 December 1971, when the emirates came together as one federation. Many people search for it as “UAE Independence Day”, but the official name is National Day, and the holiday is branded Eid Al Etihad, the Festival of the Union.
Is National Day a Holiday for the Private Sector in 2026?
Yes. The UAE runs one unified public holiday list for government and private-sector employees under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) handles government announcements, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) handles the private sector.
The headline dates should match across both sectors, but individual employers may handle the days around the holiday differently, for example remote work or shorter hours on Friday, December 4. Check your own HR circular rather than assuming.
Will There Be a Long Weekend for National Day 2026?
Not by default. December 2–3 is a Wednesday and Thursday, so the holiday sits in the middle of the week. A long weekend only appears if the Cabinet moves the holiday to the start or end of the working week, or if you take leave around it.
| Scenario | Holiday Dates | Resulting Break |
| Dates stay as announced | Wed Dec 2 – Thu Dec 3 | Mid-week holiday, then Fri Dec 4 and the weekend (5 days with 1 leave day) |
| Moved to Mon–Tue (as in 2025) | Mon Nov 30 – Tue Dec 1 | Sat Nov 28 – Tue Dec 1, a 4-day break with no leave needed |
The second row is an illustration based on last year’s precedent, not a prediction. Treat Dec 2–3 as the official dates until the Cabinet says otherwise.
Could the Dates Be Moved?
They could. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 gives the UAE Cabinet the authority to shift eligible public holidays to the start or end of the working week, creating longer breaks.
There’s recent precedent. In 2025, National Day was observed on Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2. The baseline dates of Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3 hold unless an official transfer is announced.
When Will We Know?
The 2025 transfer was announced in mid-November, and any 2026 decision is usually announced around the same time. If you’re booking now, choose refundable or flexible fares until the announcement. For the latest, check the official UAE government portal (u.ae).
The “Commemoration Day” Confusion, Addressed Directly
The official holiday list under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 shows only December 2–3 for National Day. There is no separate, standalone Commemoration Day holiday listed beside it.
Commemoration Day (also known as Martyrs’ Day) has traditionally been observed on November 30. Some outlets still treat it as part of the break. Under the current unified calendar it is not confirmed as a separate paid day off for private sector employees, so don’t build travel or leave plans around it until an official source says otherwise.
Don’t confuse it with Flag Day. Flag Day falls on 3 November each year. It is a symbolic day for raising the UAE flag, not a public holiday.
How to Turn 2 Days Into Up to 9 Days Off
Using annual leave strategically, you can extend two fixed public holidays into a genuinely long break. Gulf News outlines three leave-stacking scenarios:
| Annual Leave Days Used | Leave Dates | Total Days Off | Break Dates |
| 1 day | Fri, Dec 4 | 5 days | Wed Dec 2 – Sun Dec 6 |
| 2 days | Mon Nov 30, Tue Dec 1 | 6 days | Sat Nov 28 – Thu Dec 3 |
| 3 days | Mon Nov 30, Tue Dec 1, Fri Dec 4 | 9 days | Sat Nov 28 – Sun Dec 6 |
Two practical notes before you act:
- Employers may cap how much annual leave can be taken consecutively. Confirm approval before booking anything non-refundable.
- Some public-sector staff may work remotely on Friday, December 4, so the “1 leave day = 5 days off” scenario can vary by employer.
What’s Happening for Eid Al Etihad 2026
Per Wego’s events roundup, Dubai’s celebrations are expected to run from 30 November to 3 December, with fireworks, cultural shows and family events. Confirmed so far:
- Andrea Bocelli at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, on December 2 (ticketed).
- Hala Mohanlal stage show in Dubai on December 2 (venue and ticket details not yet announced).
Venues and times for most other events haven’t been announced yet. We’ll update this section as programmes are released.
Decorating Your Car
Police normally announce the rules and dates for car decorations closer to the holiday, and breaking them can mean a fine and the vehicle being impounded. Check the latest police guidance before decorating.
Travel and Airfare Outlook for Eid Al Etihad 2026
Longer breaks mean higher demand. Khaleej Times reports that airfares to popular leisure destinations could nearly double over the break, and travel agents say fares on some routes could rise a further 12–25% during the holiday period depending on seat availability and booking dates. Dubai Standard reports similar findings and notes that airfares have been trending higher over recent months, partly due to elevated oil prices.
The Maldives is the top international destination so far, followed by Thailand, Switzerland and South Africa. According to Emirates Holidays, the Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles together account for about half of its bookings over the break. South Africa is showing the sharpest growth, and families now make up 48% of bookings, up from previous years.
Tip: book early, and choose flexible or refundable fares until any date-transfer announcement is made.
What This Means If You’re Buying, Selling, or Renting in Dubai
If you’re stacking this holiday into a longer break, factor it into any active property transaction timeline. Public holidays affect more than your calendar: they affect processing.
Physical Dubai Land Department (DLD) offices and Registration Trustee centres are expected to close for the public holiday, while digital services such as the Dubai REST app generally stay available. Anything requiring human processing, such as developer NOC approvals, mortgage registrations and transfer registrations, may pause until offices reopen. Confirm the exact closure dates with DLD closer to the holiday. If you’re a tenant with a lease or Ejari renewal falling in this window, our Dubai rental market guide (RERA and Ejari) explains the process and your rights.
If you have a deadline near this window (a handover, an NOC application, a transfer), build in a buffer now. For the mechanics, see our NOC guide and buying guide. Not sure whether to rent or buy before year-end? Our renting vs buying numbers work through the break-even, and our guide to the average rent in Dubai shows what a lease costs by area. October and November are the tightest months for rental supply, so don’t leave a rental search until after the break.
If your transaction, handover, or NOC application falls near the break, get in touch with First Call Real Estate and we’ll help you move ahead of the holiday, not around it.
Staycations and the Short-Term Rental Market
Not every holiday plan involves a flight. Emirates Holidays reports that its domestic UAE bookings are up 23% year-on-year for this break, a sign of staycation demand. It’s one operator’s figure rather than a market-wide number, but it points in a promising direction for Dubai landlords watching the short-term rental market, particularly for well-located, well-managed units.
If you’re weighing whether now is the time to list, our short-term rental guide breaks down what that decision looks like in practice.
Planning a Year-End Property Move? Where to Start
A long break is when many people finally act on a property plan. Whichever side of the market you’re on, these guides cover the numbers before you commit:
- Buying to invest: compare areas in our best areas to invest in Dubai guide and our best communities in Dubai breakdown.
- Buying at the high end: see the luxury apartments buyer guide or ask whether you can own a Burj Khalifa residence.
- Looking at specific projects: read the Creek Gate Tower 2 price and yield guide and the Town Square Dubai guide.
- Selling: start with the NOC for property sale guide, since approvals are what a holiday slows down.
- Renting out for the season: our short-term rental guide shows how landlords prepare for peak-demand weeks.
- Choosing an agency: see our Top 50 real estate companies in Dubai ranking.
Looking Ahead: National Day 2027
Eid Al Etihad 2027 is set for Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3, which would give a four-day weekend (Thursday to Sunday) if the dates stand.
Plan the Break, Plan the Move
UAE National Day 2026 gives you two fixed dates, Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3, and with the right leave strategy, a path to nine days off. Watch for the Cabinet’s announcement in mid-November, and keep flights flexible until then.
If this break has you thinking about a year-end move, a sale, or an investment before the market closes out 2026, reach out to First Call Real Estate or explore our current listings.
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026 (we’ll refresh this page when the Cabinet confirms or transfers the holiday).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is UAE National Day 2026?
UAE National Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, December 2 and Thursday, December 3, officially known as Eid Al Etihad.
How many years is UAE National Day 2026?
It is the 55th UAE National Day, marking 55 years since the Union was formed on 2 December 1971.
Is UAE National Day the same as Independence Day?
People often search for it that way, but the official name is National Day (Eid Al Etihad). It commemorates the formation of the Union on 2 December 1971.
Is National Day a holiday for the private sector in 2026?
Yes. The UAE uses one unified holiday list for public and private sectors under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Check your employer’s HR circular for how the days around the holiday are handled.
Will the UAE National Day 2026 holiday be moved to different days?
Not currently. The dates hold at December 2–3 unless the Cabinet issues a transfer under Resolution No. 27 of 2024, as it did in 2025 when the holiday shifted to December 1–2. Any announcement is typically expected in mid-November.
Is there a long weekend for National Day 2026?
Not unless the holiday is moved or you take leave. As it stands, December 2–3 falls mid-week, and one day of leave on Friday, December 4 gives you five days off.
Is Commemoration Day an official UAE public holiday?
No. The official holiday list shows only December 2–3 for National Day, with no separate standalone Commemoration Day listed as a paid day off.
How many days off can I get for UAE National Day 2026 with annual leave?
Using strategic annual leave, you can extend the two-day holiday to as many as nine days off, running from Saturday, November 28 through Sunday, December 6.
Do DLD and RERA services close during the National Day holiday?
Physical DLD offices and Trustee Centres are expected to close, while digital services such as the Dubai REST app generally stay online. Approvals requiring human processing, like developer NOCs, may pause until offices reopen.
Is now a good time to list my Dubai property for short-term holiday rental?
Early signs are promising. Emirates Holidays reports domestic UAE bookings up 23% year-on-year for this period. That’s one operator’s data rather than a market-wide figure, so check current demand in your community before deciding.
