The Eid Al Fitr holiday is approaching in the UAE, bringing several days off for residents as Ramadan comes to an end.
The UAE government has confirmed that the Eid Al Fitr holiday will begin on Thursday, March 19, 2026, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
For residents across Dubai and the UAE, this will result in a four-day long weekend, offering time for celebrations, family gatherings and festive events.
When is Eid Al Fitr 2026?
According to the confirmed public holiday schedule, the Eid Al Fitr break will start on Thursday, March 19.
The holiday period is expected to run through the weekend, giving residents several consecutive days off.
Eid Al Fitr is one of the most important celebrations in the Islamic calendar, marking the completion of Ramadan.
Why the Eid holiday won’t move
The UAE introduced a public holiday law in 2025 allowing certain holidays based on the Islamic Hijri calendar to shift if they fall on a weekend.
However, the regulation specifically excludes Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, meaning their holiday dates cannot be moved even if they coincide with the weekend.
The law states that the UAE Cabinet may transfer some public holidays to the beginning or end of the week, except for Eid holidays, which remain fixed.
Because of this rule, the Eid Al Fitr holiday in 2026 will remain on its scheduled dates rather than being moved to create additional weekday leave.
Other holidays may shift
While the Eid holidays remain fixed, other Islamic public holidays could be adjusted if they fall on a weekend in the future.
These include:
-
Islamic New Year
-
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH)
-
UAE National Day
Under the current regulations, authorities may move those holidays to the start or end of the week to create extended breaks.
Extra holidays remain possible
The national regulation also allows each emirate to introduce additional holidays or special celebrations if desired.
This means that individual emirates, including Dubai, may occasionally add extra days off for significant events or celebrations.
With Eid Al Fitr fast approaching, residents across the UAE are already preparing for one of the most anticipated holidays of the year.
