UAE National Day 2026: Residents Eye 5-Day Break with Annual Leave

The Eid Al Etihad holidays, celebrating UAE National Day, are anticipated to fall on Wednesday, December 2, and Thursday, December 3, 2026. Although official announcements are still awaited, these dates traditionally mark the celebration, now in its 55th year.

For many residents, this positioning offers an opportunity to create a five-day long weekend by taking Friday, December 4, as an annual leave day. This strategy capitalises on the proximity of the public holiday to the standard weekend.

While a 2025 UAE law introduced the possibility of transferring some public holidays to ensure longer continuous breaks, it is considered unlikely that the Eid Al Etihad holidays will be moved this year. However, residents may still benefit if Friday is officially declared a holiday, thereby granting an extended break without needing to use annual leave.

Notably, employees on a four-day work week, such as those in the public sector in Sharjah, would automatically receive a five-day break spanning the holidays and weekend without using any annual leave. The 2026 celebrations, coinciding with the 'Year of Family', are set to focus on the country's families, generations, and communities.

Travel agents advise early booking for those planning to travel during this period, as demand and ticket prices are expected to rise closer to the holiday dates.