The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia sit side by side on the map, share a language and a faith, and yet run their public holiday calendars in noticeably different ways. If you work, travel, or do business across the Gulf, understanding both systems for 2026 will save you from mistimed meetings and closed offices. Here is a clear comparison of the UAE and Saudi Arabia public holidays in 2026, built only from officially announced dates.
How the UAE sets its public holidays
The UAE follows a unified public holiday calendar announced by the Cabinet. In recent years the country has standardised holidays across the public and private sectors, which makes planning simpler than in many other countries. The calendar blends fixed Gregorian dates with Islamic lunar observances whose exact dates depend on moon sighting. For 2026, the fixed dates are confirmed: New Year’s Day on January 1, Commemoration Day on December 1, and UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on December 2 and 3. The Islamic holidays are officially announced closer to the time: Eid Al Fitr is expected around March 20 to 22, Arafat Day around May 26, Eid Al Adha around May 27 to 29, Islamic New Year around June 15, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday around August 25. Treat every lunar date as provisional until the UAE authorities confirm it.
How Saudi Arabia sets its public holidays
Saudi Arabia’s official holidays are fewer and more concentrated. The Kingdom observes Founding Day on February 22, a relatively new national holiday celebrating the establishment of the first Saudi state. The two Eids form the backbone of the holiday year: Eid al-Fitr is expected around March 20 to 22, 2026, and Eid al-Adha around May 27 to 29, with Arafat Day around May 26. Islamic New Year (Muharram) is expected around June 16, and Saudi National Day falls on September 23. As in the UAE, the lunar dates are confirmed only by official announcement, and the exact number of days off for each Eid can vary between the public sector, private sector, and banks.
Side-by-side: the 2026 calendars
Put the two calendars next to each other and the contrasts stand out. Both countries close for the two Eids and Islamic New Year, and their expected 2026 lunar dates align closely: Eid Al Fitr around March 20 to 22 in both, Eid Al Adha around May 27 to 29 in both. Where they diverge is on national occasions. The UAE celebrates Commemoration Day and a two-day National Day in early December, while Saudi Arabia marks Founding Day in February and National Day in September. The UAE also observes New Year’s Day on January 1 as an official public holiday; Saudi Arabia does not. Total days off differ too: the UAE’s calendar typically yields more public holidays across the year than Saudi Arabia’s, partly because the Emirates layer federal commemorative days on top of the Islamic calendar.
What this means for workers and travellers
If you are employed in either country, check whether your contract follows the public or private sector calendar, because Eid holiday lengths can differ between them. If you are travelling, the Eid periods and National Day weekends are the busiest times for flights and hotels across the Gulf, so book early. And whatever your plans, remember the golden rule of Gulf holiday planning: lunar dates are always provisional. Bookmark an official source such as the UAE government portal or the Saudi Press Agency, and re-check a week before you travel. A holiday calendar is only as reliable as its latest confirmation.