UAE: Federal government employees in the UAE will have a five-day holiday for Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha 2026, authorities announced.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources confirmed that the public sector holiday for ministries and federal entities will run from Monday, May 25, to Friday, May 29, 2026. Official work will resume on Monday, June 1.
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Federal Offices to Pause for Five Working Days
The announced break covers five working days for federal employees.
Because the holiday runs from Monday to Friday, many public sector employees may get a longer rest period when the regular weekend is included. Based on the confirmed schedule, federal offices will reopen on Monday, June 1.
For residents, this means some federal government services may be limited or unavailable during the holiday week. People who need government transactions should check office timings, online service channels, and appointment availability before the break begins.
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha Covered
The holiday is for Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha.
Arafah Day is one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar. It falls during the Hajj pilgrimage, when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat near Makkah.
Eid Al Adha follows Arafah Day and is observed by Muslims around the world. It is also one of the UAE’s major public holidays.
As with other Islamic holidays, final religious dates may still depend on the official moon sighting. This is why residents should follow government announcements for any final confirmation.
Private Sector Announcement Still Separate
The latest announcement applies to federal government employees.
Private sector workers should wait for a separate announcement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation or official UAE channels. In many UAE holidays, private sector dates often align with public sector dates, but workers should not assume until the announcement is made.
Employees should also check with their company HR team, especially those working in hospitality, retail, transport, healthcare, aviation, security, and other essential services.
Travel and Errands May Get Busier
The Eid Al Adha break is usually a busy period for travel, shopping, family visits, and tourism.
Residents planning flights, staycations, visa appointments, remittances, or government paperwork should prepare early. Ticket prices, hotel rates, and airport traffic may increase as more people plan around the long break.
For Filipino expats, it may also be a good time to check passport validity, UAE visa status, travel insurance, and airline rules before booking any trip.
