UAE Confirms Remote Work for Public Sector on January 2nd

The United Arab Emirates has confirmed the first public holiday of 2026, with New Year’s Day on Thursday January 1st, 2026 designated as a day off for federal government employees, and public sector entities across all seven emirates permitted to implement remote work on Friday January 2nd, 2026. The first day back in government offices will be Monday January 5th, 2026. The measures were outlined in a circular issued by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. The guidance applies specifically to federal entities and public sector organisations. It does not set out provisions for private sector employers, and there has been no confirmation yet from the Ministry. New Year’s Day is one of the few UAE public holidays that can be confirmed well in advance, as it is fixed to the Gregorian calendar. Several other public holidays in the country are linked to the Islamic Hijri calendar and are typically confirmed closer to their dates based on moon sightings.