UAE Announces Eid Al Fitr 2026 Holiday for Public and Private Sectors
Emirates set March 19–22 as Eid break, with extended weekend possible depending on Ramadan moon sighting.
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The United Arab Emirates has officially declared the public holiday schedule for Eid Al Fitr 2026, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan and one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar.
Federal government entities and private sector employers have been given clear dates to plan around the festive period as residents prepare to enjoy time with family, travel and community activities.
According to announcements from the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, employees in federal ministries, institutions and public sector bodies will observe the Eid Al Fitr holiday from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22, 2026. Work is scheduled to resume on Monday, March 23.
For the private sector, the holiday has been set from March 19 to March 21, with the potential to extend to March 22 if Ramadan lasts the full 30 days, a determination made based on the official sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon near the end of Ramadan.
Eid Al Fitr, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” follows a month of dawn-to-sunset fasting, prayer, reflection and charity observed by Muslims worldwide. In the UAE, the exact timing of Eid celebrations and the resulting holiday period depends on the moon sighting committees’ announcement, which typically occurs a day before the start of Shawwal, the lunar month that follows Ramadan.
The announced dates provide residents, including Emirati citizens and expatriates, with an extended break that aligns with the UAE’s weekend and allows for travel, family gatherings and cultural festivities. Eid Al Fitr is traditionally celebrated with special morning prayers, feasting, giving of Zakat al-Fitr (charitable giving), and visits between family and friends across the Emirates.
Authorities’ early declaration of the holiday period helps businesses, government offices, and workers plan ahead, including adjusting work schedules and coordinating operational needs around the festive period. As always, the official Eid start date and length of the holiday will be confirmed closer to the end of Ramadan, when the moon-sighting committee makes its formal announcement.