The Eid Al Etihad holiday 2026 for employees of ministries and federal entities will run from Wednesday 2 December to Friday 4 December, with official working hours resuming on Monday 7 December, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) announced on Friday 13 November.
The UAE Government Media Office published the same dates at 11:29 that morning in official English and Arabic graphics titled “55th Eid Al Etihad Holiday for the UAE Federal Government”. The Emirates News Agency WAM carried the announcement shortly after.
Counting the regular Saturday and Sunday weekend on 5 and 6 December, federal staff on a Saturday to Sunday weekend get five days off in a row. The official notices give the three holiday dates and the Monday return; the five-day figure is simply how those dates fall on the calendar.
Eid Al Etihad holiday 2026 calendar for federal employees
This Eid Al Etihad holiday 2026 calendar applies to ministries and federal entities only, as confirmed by FAHR.
| Date | Day | Status for federal employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2 December 2026 | Wednesday | Official holiday |
| 3 December 2026 | Thursday | Official holiday |
| 4 December 2026 | Friday | Official holiday (the extra federal day) |
| 5 December 2026 | Saturday | Regular weekend |
| 6 December 2026 | Sunday | Regular weekend |
| 7 December 2026 | Monday | Official working hours resume |
How the dates compare with the official holiday list
The official UAE government public holidays page, dated 29 October 2026, still lists National Day as two days, 2 and 3 December, for both the public and private sectors. Friday 4 December is the additional day added to the Eid Al Etihad holiday 2026, and so far it has been confirmed only for the federal government.
The pattern is different from last year. For the 54th Eid Al Etihad, FAHR gave federal staff Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025 off, with work resuming on 3 December.
The Eid Al Etihad holiday 2026 is the last public holiday on the official 2026 list. The next one is Gregorian New Year’s Day, which falls on Friday 1 January 2027.
What about the private sector?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) had not announced private-sector dates when this article was published. Until it does, private companies should not be assumed to be off on Friday 4 December. The two statutory National Day dates on the official list, 2 and 3 December, remain in place for both sectors.
Last year FAHR announced the federal dates first and MoHRE followed later, but that is history, not a promise about this year. Staff at local government entities in each emirate, which are not covered by the FAHR notice, should also wait for their own employer’s announcement. If you work in the private sector and are asked to work on a public holiday, our guide on what your employer owes you for working on UAE public holidays explains the rules.
Official celebrations for the 55th Eid Al Etihad
The 55th Eid Al Etihad falls during the UAE’s Year of Family, and the official celebration theme is “Belonging in Unity”. The official Eid Al Etihad website hosts “Our Celebration, Made Together”, an interactive experience where people can build a virtual home and share stories, memories and messages, WAM reported on 10 November.
In Dubai, Brand Dubai’s National Month celebrations run until 2 December, the first day of the holiday, according to WAM. The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival then opens on Friday 4 December and runs to 17 January 2027. Our Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27 guide covers the dates, concerts and deals.
Eid Al Etihad itself marks the founding of the UAE federation on 2 December 1971. Details of this year’s official ceremony had not been announced in the official sources checked for this article.
Read more: UAE Public Holiday August 2026 Confirmed for Friday, August 28