Dubai announces Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday for public sector employees
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Dubai authorities have announced Eid Al Fitr holidays for public sector employees in the emirate, days ahead of the national break that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, Dubai Government's Human Resources Department stated that government employees will get four days off from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22. Work will resume on Monday, March 23.
The UAE is set to sight the crescent moon of the hijri month of Shawwal on Wednesday, March 18, after Maghrib prayer to announce when Eid Al Fitr will start this year, as the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.
Eid Al Fitr holiday in UAE
Last month, the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation have announced the Eid Al Fitr holiday dates for employees in federal government entities and the private sector.
For federal government entities, the Eid Al Fitr holiday will begin on Thursday, March 19, 2026, and continue until Sunday, March 22, 2026. Official working hours will resume on Monday, March 23, 2026. For the private sector employees, the holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, 2026, until Saturday, March 21, 2026. Employees who normally work on Sundays will be required to return to work on Sunday, March 22.
The authorities clarified that if the holy month of Ramadan lasts 30 days, the private sector holiday will be extended to Sunday, March 22, 2026. The announcement applies across the UAE and follows established guidelines for public and private sector holiday schedules.
Eid Al Fitr 2026 likely date
The UAE-based International Astronomy Centre (IAC) has predicted that sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 18 is impossible, meaning the holy month of Ramadan will be 30 days. As per the astronomical calculations, the first day of Eid Al Fitr in the UAE will be on March 20, and in some other countries.
Due to the moon setting before the sun and the conjunction occurring after sunset, the crescent sighting will be "impossible" on March 18, IAC said.
