Holiday planning
Long Weekends in United Arab Emirates 2026
United Arab Emirates has 7 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 9 days around Eid al-Adha Bridge Day & Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) & Eid al-Adha Day 1 & Eid al-Adha Day 2 & Eid al-Adha Day 3 (Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May). Take Friday off and turn the Eid al-Adha Bridge Day & Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) & Eid al-Adha Day 1 & Eid al-Adha Day 2 & Eid al-Adha Day 3 break into a 10-day run.
7
Long weekends
10
Longest break (days)
7
Bridge day opportunities
Official reference: u.ae — UAE public holidays · How we verify this data
All long weekends in United Arab Emirates 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan | New Year's Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 2 Jan) | 4d |
| Thu 19 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Eid al-Fitr Day 1, Eid al-Fitr Day 2, Eid al-Fitr Day 3 | 3 | Thursday(Thu 19 Mar) | 4d |
| Fri 22 May – Sun 31 May | Eid al-Adha Bridge Day, Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve), Eid al-Adha Day 1, Eid al-Adha Day 2, Eid al-Adha Day 3 | 9 | Friday(Fri 22 May) | 10d |
| Fri 12 Jun – Mon 15 Jun | Islamic New Year | 3 | Friday(Fri 12 Jun) | 4d |
| Thu 27 Aug – Sun 30 Aug | Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid) | 3 | Thursday(Thu 27 Aug) | 4d |
| Sat 14 Nov – Wed 18 Nov | Commemoration Day | 1 | Monday + Tuesday(Mon 16 Nov, Tue 17 Nov) | 5d |
| Sat 28 Nov – Thu 3 Dec | UAE National Day, UAE National Day (2nd) | 2 | Monday + Tuesday(Mon 30 Nov, Tue 1 Dec) | 6d |
Best long weekends in United Arab Emirates 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
May
Eid al-Adha Bridge Day & Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) & Eid al-Adha Day 1 & Eid al-Adha Day 2 & Eid al-Adha Day 3
Fri 22 May – Sun 31 May
10
days
December
UAE National Day & UAE National Day (2nd)
Sat 28 Nov – Thu 3 Dec
6
days
November
Commemoration Day
Sat 14 Nov – Wed 18 Nov
5
days
January
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan
4
days
How to use bridge days in United Arab Emirates
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In United Arab Emirates 2026, there are 7 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Eid al-Adha Bridge Day & Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) & Eid al-Adha Day 1 & Eid al-Adha Day 2 & Eid al-Adha Day 3: take Friday off to turn a 9-day break into 10 consecutive days using only 1 day of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Eid al-Adha Bridge Day
Mon 25 May
Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve)
Tue 26 May
Eid al-Adha Day 1
Wed 27 May
Eid al-Adha Day 2
Thu 28 May
Eid al-Adha Day 3
Fri 29 May
UAE National Day
Wed 2 Dec
UAE National Day (2nd)
Thu 3 Dec
Commemoration Day
Wed 18 Nov
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan
Eid al-Fitr Day 1
Fri 20 Mar
Eid al-Fitr Day 2
Sat 21 Mar
Eid al-Fitr Day 3
Sun 22 Mar
Islamic New Year
Mon 15 Jun
Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid)
Fri 28 Aug
Continue exploring
More for United Arab Emirates 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in United Arab Emirates 2026
Full list of 14 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in United Arab Emirates 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in United Arab Emirates 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
Region guide
Public holidays across Middle East & North Africa
Compare holiday calendars for neighbouring countries in the region.
Calculator
Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does United Arab Emirates have in 2026?
United Arab Emirates has 7 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in United Arab Emirates in 2026?
The longest break is 10 days from Friday, 22 May 2026 to Sunday, 31 May 2026, centred around Eid al-Adha Bridge Day and Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) and Eid al-Adha Day 1 and Eid al-Adha Day 2 and Eid al-Adha Day 3 (taking Friday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in United Arab Emirates 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Eid al-Adha Bridge Day & Arafat (Eid al-Adha Eve) & Eid al-Adha Day 1 & Eid al-Adha Day 2 & Eid al-Adha Day 3 (Sat 23 May – Sun 31 May). Take Friday as annual leave to get a 10-day break using only 1 day of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in United Arab Emirates?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.