The UAE has confirmed that Friday, August 28, 2026, will be a public holiday marking the Prophet's birthday, giving both public and private sector employees a three-day weekend that year.
Under UAE Cabinet legislation, the Prophet's birthday is observed annually on Rabi' Al Awal 12 in the Islamic calendar. In 2026, that date falls on a Friday, meaning the holiday will run into the weekend and give residents three consecutive days off without needing to use annual leave.
What this means for the 2026 holiday calendar
With the Prophet's birthday now confirmed, National Day remains the only other public holiday left on the UAE calendar for 2026. National Day is celebrated on December 2 and 3, which in 2026 fall on a Wednesday and Thursday.
Because National Day lands midweek, residents could potentially stretch the break into a longer holiday by taking annual leave on November 30, December 1, and December 4. Combined with the surrounding weekends and the National Day holiday itself, that leave strategy could produce a nine-day break for those who plan ahead.
A possible Cabinet adjustment
There is also a chance the holiday could be extended without any need for annual leave. If the Cabinet decides to transfer the National Day holiday, as it has done in past years to align holidays more conveniently with weekends, the break could become a four-day weekend instead.
No such transfer has been announced yet, so residents planning ahead should treat the December 2-3 dates as confirmed for now, with the possibility of adjustment to follow closer to the date.
Planning ahead
For UAE residents mapping out annual leave for 2026, the confirmation of the Prophet's birthday holiday on August 28 gives an early data point for the year. With National Day being the only other holiday left on the calendar, those looking to maximise time off later in the year may want to keep an eye on whether the Cabinet announces any changes to the December dates.
Reported by Economy Middle East.