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UAE Announces Eid Al Fitr 2026 Holidays for Public and Private Sector Employees

The UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation have officially announced the Eid Al Fitr 2026 holidays for both public and private sector employees across the UAE.

For federal government entities, the Eid Al Fitr holiday will begin on Thursday, March 19, and continue until Sunday, March 22, 2026. Regular working hours will resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
For the private sector, the holiday period will run from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21, 2026. However, officials clarified that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, the private sector holiday will also extend to Sunday, March 22, 2026.

The announcement, which applies nationwide, follows the UAE’s unified public and private sector holiday schedule established in recent years to ensure alignment and work-life balance for employees.

Moon-Sighting and Eid Dates

The official start of Eid Al Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, depends on the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal. The UAE’s moon-sighting committee will convene on March 18, 2026 (29th day of Ramadan) to confirm the beginning of Shawwal.

If the crescent moon is sighted that evening, Ramadan will end on March 18, and Eid Al Fitr will begin on March 19.
If not, Ramadan will be completed as 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr commencing on March 20, 2026.

This process follows the Islamic lunar calendar, where each month begins after the verified sighting of the new crescent moon.

Residents Anticipate Festive Break

The announcement means that UAE residents could enjoy a four- to five-day Eid holiday, depending on the moon sighting. Savvy planners could even turn this into a nine-day break, by taking annual leave from March 16–19, allowing continuous time off from March 14 through March 22, inclusive of weekends and Eid holidays.

The festive atmosphere is already taking shape across the Emirates — with tailors closing orders for Eid outfits, shops restocking shelves, and families preparing early for the celebrations. As the UAE prepares for the sacred month of fasting, reflection, and community, anticipation builds for the joyous days that follow.

Astronomical Forecast

According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, Eid Al Fitr in 2026 is expected to fall around Friday, March 20, subject to lunar observations. The prediction aligns with regional astronomical calculations, though the final confirmation will rest with the official moon-sighting committee.