Plan your breaks right and you could be lounging in the Maldives, exploring European cities or road-tripping across the region. All without using too much leave.
Back at your desk and already counting down to your next break? Same. The good news is 2026 is packed with public holidays. With a bit of planning, you can turn a few annual leave days into multiple long weekends and mini adventures.
Here’s how to make it work.
Public holidays in 2026 (forecast dates):
While the official dates will be confirmed closer to the time, here’s what the year’s looking like:
-1 January: New Year’s Day
-20 to 22 March: Eid Al Fitr
-26 to 29 May: Eid Al Adha
-17 June: Islamic New Year
-Around mid-September: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
-2 to 3 December: UAE National Day
Best long weekends to plan around:
A few public holidays fall near weekends in 2026. Here’s where you can grab an easy escape:
-Eid Al Fitr: Friday to Sunday (20 to 22 March). Ideal for a desert glamp or a budget-friendly break in Georgia.
-Eid Al Adha: Tuesday to Friday (26 to 29 May). Use just one or two leave days for a dreamy six-day escape. Hello, Maldives.
-UAE National Day: Wednesday and Thursday (2 to 3 December). Add Sunday to your leave and you’ll get five days off. Think long-haul city break or a mountain retreat up north.
Stretch your annual leave: 9 days = 38 days off:
Time your annual leave to fall between or around the holidays. Use nine leave days smartly across the year and you could get up to 38 days off.
A few reminders:
Lunar holidays follow the Islamic calendar and depend on moon sightings, so dates may shift slightly. Fixed dates like New Year’s Day and National Day stay put, so those are your sure things for planning ahead.
Whether you’re craving island time, café-hopping in a new city or simply catching your breath somewhere quiet, 2026 is stacked with chances to break away. The trick is just booking early before everyone else does.
Discover: UAE holidays 2026: How to turn your leave into long getaways.
