The UAE public holidays 2028 are New Year’s Day on Saturday, January 1; Eid al-Fitr from Saturday, February 26 to Monday, February 28; the Day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha from Thursday, May 4 to Sunday, May 7; the Islamic New Year on Thursday, May 25; the Prophet’s Birthday on Thursday, August 3; and National Day on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3. Seven of the 12 dates fall on a weekend, and the Islamic dates are expected dates that the government confirms after the moon is sighted. Below are the dates, the Eid breaks, leave planning tips and a free printable UAE holidays 2028 calendar.
UAE Public Holidays 2028 at a glance
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Saturday | New Year’s Day |
| February 26 | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr (expected) |
| February 27 | Sunday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (expected) |
| February 28 | Monday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday (expected) |
| May 4 | Thursday | Day of Arafah (expected) |
| May 5 | Friday | Eid al-Adha (expected) |
| May 6 | Saturday | Eid al-Adha Holiday (expected) |
| May 7 | Sunday | Eid al-Adha Holiday (expected) |
| May 25 | Thursday | Islamic New Year (expected) |
| August 3 | Thursday | Prophet’s Birthday (expected) |
| December 2 | Saturday | National Day |
| December 3 | Sunday | National Day |
Islamic dates are calculated in advance and marked expected; the UAE Cabinet confirms the official holidays each year.
UAE public holidays 2028: printable calendars
Download a 2028 calendar with the UAE public holidays marked: a year at a glance and all 12 months on A4 with a Monday start, February with Eid al-Fitr and May with Eid al-Adha and the Islamic New Year. Each one is a ready-to-print UAE holidays 2028 calendar PDF for the office, the school or the family fridge.
Long weekends in 2028
These holidays fall on a Monday or Friday, giving a three-day weekend: Eid al-Fitr Holiday (Monday, February 28); Eid al-Adha (Friday, May 5).
On a weekend in 2028: New Year’s Day (Saturday, January 1); Eid al-Fitr (Saturday, February 26); Eid al-Fitr Holiday (Sunday, February 27); Eid al-Adha Holiday (Saturday, May 6); Eid al-Adha Holiday (Sunday, May 7); National Day (Saturday, December 2); National Day (Sunday, December 3).
About each holiday
- New Year’s Day: The first day of the year.
- Eid al-Fitr: The festival that ends the month of Ramadan.
- Eid al-Fitr Holiday: Part of the Eid al-Fitr public holiday.
- Day of Arafah: The day before Eid al-Adha, the high point of the Hajj pilgrimage.
- Eid al-Adha: The festival of sacrifice, at the end of the Hajj.
- Eid al-Adha Holiday: Part of the Eid al-Adha public holiday.
- Islamic New Year: The first day of Muharram, the start of the Hijri year.
- Prophet’s Birthday: Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
- National Day: Marks the founding of the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971.
Eid holidays 2028 UAE: how long are the breaks?
In the UAE public holidays 2028 list, the two Eids fall next to a weekend, which makes the breaks easy to plan. These lengths use the expected dates and a Saturday and Sunday weekend:
| Holiday | Expected dates | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | Saturday, February 26 to Monday, February 28 | 3: Saturday to Monday, with two of the three days on the weekend |
| Eid al-Adha | Thursday, May 4 to Sunday, May 7 | 4: Thursday to Sunday |
| Islamic New Year | Thursday, May 25 | 1, or 4 with Friday, May 26 off |
| Prophet’s Birthday | Thursday, August 3 | 1, or 4 with Friday, August 4 off |
| National Day | Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 | 2, both on the weekend |
Check the official announcement before you book travel. The UAE government portal u.ae publishes the confirmed public holidays, and sometimes adds a day when a holiday falls on a weekend.
UAE public holidays 2028 that fall on a weekend
Seven of the 12 UAE public holidays 2028 fall on a Saturday or Sunday: New Year’s Day, Eid al-Fitr and its first holiday day, the last two days of Eid al-Adha, and both days of National Day. In some years the government moves a holiday to a Friday or Monday, or announces an extra day, so a weekend date does not always mean a lost day off. If your employer follows the announcement, you will see it a few days before. Plan trips with flexible bookings, and add confirmed dates to your calendar as soon as they are published.
UAE public holidays 2028: Ramadan and working hours
Ramadan 2028 is expected to start around Friday, January 28 and end around February 25, before Eid al-Fitr on February 26. The month of fasting is the heart of the Islamic year, as described in Wikipedia’s Ramadan article. During Ramadan, working hours are shortened, usually by two hours a day, shops and restaurants change their opening times, and many people have iftar meals with family and friends after sunset. Print a Ramadan calendar from our Islamic holidays 2028 page to count the days.
Leave planning around the UAE holidays 2028
- Eid al-Fitr: the holiday runs from Saturday to Monday, so taking Tuesday, February 29 to Friday, March 3 (4 days of leave) gives a nine-day break from Saturday, February 26 to Sunday, March 5.
- Eid al-Adha: Thursday to Sunday is already a four-day break, and a few extra days of leave around it make a summer trip.
- Islamic New Year and Prophet’s Birthday: both are on a Thursday, so a Friday of leave gives a four-day weekend each time.
- National Day: December 2 and 3 are a weekend, so check whether Monday, December 4 or another day is announced as a replacement.
UAE public holidays 2028 compared with 2027
Because the Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, the Islamic dates in the UAE holidays 2028 list, including the Dubai public holidays 2028, arrive about 11 days earlier than in 2027. Wikipedia’s Eid al-Fitr article has more about the festival that ends Ramadan.
| Holiday | 2028 (expected) | 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Fitr | Saturday, February 26 | Tuesday, March 9 |
| Day of Arafah | Thursday, May 4 | Saturday, May 15 |
| Eid al-Adha | Friday, May 5 | Sunday, May 16 |
| Islamic New Year | Thursday, May 25 | Sunday, June 6 |
| Prophet’s Birthday | Thursday, August 3 | Saturday, August 14 |
| National Day | December 2 and 3 (fixed) | December 2 and 3 (fixed) |
UAE holidays 2028 calendar: print it with these dates
The calendar maker below opens with the UAE public holidays for 2028 already marked. Switch between a year at a glance, one page per month or a single month; add another country’s holidays or a festival calendar on top, turn on moon phases, and download a free PDF for US Letter, A4 or A5.
UAE public holidays 2028: frequently asked questions
How many UAE public holidays 2028 are there?
This list has 12 holiday dates in 2028. Seven of them fall on a weekend.
Eid holidays 2028 UAE: which dates are expected?
The first is Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, February 26, and the second is Eid al-Adha on Friday, May 5, both expected dates.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2028 in the UAE?
Eid al-Fitr is expected on Saturday, February 26, 2028, with holidays on Sunday, February 27 and Monday, February 28.
When is Eid al-Adha 2028 in the UAE?
Eid al-Adha is expected on Friday, May 5, 2028. The Day of Arafah is Thursday, May 4, and the holidays continue on May 6 and 7.
When is the Islamic New Year 2028 in the UAE?
It is expected on Thursday, May 25, 2028, and depends on the moon sighting.
When is UAE National Day 2028?
National Day is on December 2, 2028, a Saturday, with the holiday also on Sunday, December 3.
When does Ramadan start in 2028?
Ramadan 2028 is expected to begin around Friday, January 28 and end around February 25, before Eid al-Fitr.
Are the Dubai public holidays 2028 different from the rest of the UAE?
No. Dubai follows the same list of public holidays as the other emirates, though government departments and schools may announce their own extra days.
Why are some dates marked expected?
They follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed by moon sighting, so the official date can move by a day.
Is the UAE holidays 2028 calendar free to print?
Yes. Every calendar on this page is free to print, with no sign-up.
More holiday calendars
- US Federal Holidays 2028
- UK Bank Holidays 2028
- Canada Statutory Holidays 2028
- Australia Public Holidays 2028
- Ireland Public Holidays 2028
- India Holidays 2028
- Jewish Holidays 2028
- Islamic Holidays 2028
- Hindu Festivals 2028
- Chinese Festivals 2028
- Christian Holidays 2028
- UAE Public Holidays 2027 (the same list for last year)
- 2028 calendar and all holiday calendars