UAE August public holiday 2026: How residents get a three-day break

Dubai: UAE residents are set to enjoy a three-day break this month, as the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi) public holiday falls on Friday, August 28, 2026.

For employees in the federal government and private sector who follow the standard Saturday-Sunday weekend, the holiday will create an extended break from Friday, August 28, until Sunday, August 30. Work will resume on Monday, August 31.

The long weekend offers residents an opportunity to plan short getaways, spend time with family or enjoy local attractions without needing to take annual leave.

Although the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25, the UAE’s public holiday rules allow certain holidays to be moved to the beginning or end of the working week.

Under the UAE’s public holiday system, official holidays that do not fall on a weekend can be shifted through a Cabinet decision to provide residents with longer breaks.

This means residents will receive the day off on Friday instead, allowing the public holiday to combine with the Saturday-Sunday weekend.

After the August break, residents will have one major public holiday remaining in 2026.

UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad)

With the Friday-Saturday weekend immediately following, employees could enjoy a four-day break from Wednesday, December 2, to Saturday, December 5.

The UAE’s public holiday rules allow certain holidays to be adjusted to create longer weekends.

Under Article 2 of the Cabinet resolution on public holidays, most official holidays, except Eid holidays, can be moved to the beginning or end of the working week through a Cabinet decision.

However, if a public holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps with another public holiday, it is not automatically carried forward.

Local governments can also approve additional holidays for their own departments on special occasions under Article 4.

This article was published on July 25, 2026 and has been updated since.