New Year Public Holiday Set for Thursday January 1st in the UAE
While federal rules allow certain public holidays to be shifted to the beginning or end of a week to extend a break, New Year’s Day is not one of the holidays eligible for adjustment.
The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that Thursday, January 1st, 2026, will be the year’s first public holiday, establishing that the New Year’s break will fall mid-week. While federal rules allow certain public holidays to be shifted to the beginning or end of a week to extend a break, New Year’s Day is not one of the holidays eligible for adjustment. New Year’s Day remains a fixed date under the federal holiday schedule set by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. The remainder of the 2026 public holiday calendar—covering Eid Al Fitr, Arafat Day, Eid Al Adha, the Islamic New Year, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday—will depend on official moon-sighting announcements. National Day on December 2nd and 3rd will continue to round out the year as the final confirmed holidays.
