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UAE Public Holidays 2026–2027: Payroll Calendar & Leaves
Public holidays affect payroll in ways that go beyond just giving employees a day off. Every holiday creates a set of operational questions: do you need to submit WPS files early, how do you calculate pay for employees who work through the holiday, and what happens to leave balances when a public holiday falls during an employee's annual leave? Planning ahead makes the difference between a smooth payroll cycle and a last-minute scramble.
The UAE has a minimum of 12 paid public holidays per year, spread across fixed Gregorian dates and moveable Islamic calendar dates. This calendar covers both 2026 and 2027, with the payroll implications of each holiday period. For the full employment law context covering leave entitlements and employee rights, see the UAE Labour Law: The Complete Employer Guide.
UAE Public Holidays 2026
⚠ Islamic calendar dates (*) are based on predicted moon sighting and may shift by 1–2 days. The UAE government confirms official dates shortly before each holiday.
Key Long Weekends for Payroll Planning
• Eid Al Adha (May): Arafat Day (Tue 26 May) through Eid Al Adha (Wed–Fri 27–29 May), combined with the Sat–Sun weekend, creates a potential 6-day break. If your payroll cut-off falls in this window, adjust it before the holiday begins.
• National Day (December): Commemoration Day (Mon 30 Nov) followed by National Day (Wed–Thu 2–3 Dec). With the weekend in between, some companies observe a full week off. Plan your December WPS submission accordingly.
UAE Public Holidays 2027 (Projected)
⚠ 2027 Islamic holiday dates are projected based on the Hijri lunar calendar and may shift by 1–2 days. The UAE government confirms official dates through a moon sighting announcement shortly before each holiday. This section will be updated as dates are confirmed.
Key Long Weekends for Payroll Planning
• Eid Al Adha (May): Arafat Day falls on Saturday 15 May, with Eid Al Adha running Sun–Tue 16–18 May. Combined with the preceding weekend, this creates a potential 4-day break.
• National Day (December): National Day falls on Thu–Fri 2–3 December 2027, creating a 4-day weekend through Saturday. Commemoration Day on Tuesday 30 November is separated by one working day (Wednesday 1 December).
Holiday Pay Rules for Employers
Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 sets the rules for public holiday pay in the private sector. The basics are straightforward, but the overtime calculation catches many employers off guard. Knowing the rules ahead of time lets you decide how to handle holiday staffing, budget for the extra cost, and set up your payroll system before the holiday arrives rather than after.
• Full pay for all employees: Public holidays are paid days off for all private-sector employees, regardless of contract type, length of service, or job role.
• Working on a public holiday: If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, the employer must either grant a compensatory day off, or pay the employee their normal daily wage plus an additional 50% of their basic daily salary. The employer decides which option to offer.
• Public holiday during annual leave: If a public holiday falls during an employee's approved annual leave, the holiday does not count as a leave day. The annual leave balance should be adjusted accordingly.
• Part-time employees: Part-time employees are entitled to public holidays on a pro-rata basis in accordance with their contracted hours.
Worked Example: Holiday Overtime Pay
An employee has a basic salary of AED 6,000/month (approximately AED 200/day). They are asked to work on Eid Al Adha.
• Normal daily wage: AED 200
• Holiday premium (50% of basic daily): AED 100
• Total pay for the holiday workday: AED 300
The 150% rate applies to the basic salary component only, not the total salary including allowances. For the full breakdown of salary components and how basic salary is defined, see the Salary Deductions, Minimum Wage & Pay Rules in UAE guide.
Zoho Payroll's configurable overtime allowance with custom formula support lets you set up the 150% holiday rate as a saved formula. When an employee works on a public holiday, you apply the formula instead of calculating it manually each time.
Payroll Processing Checklist for Holiday Periods
Use this checklist before each major holiday period to keep your payroll cycle on track.
• WPS submission timing: If a WPS deadline falls on or near a public holiday, submit early. Banks and exchange houses may have reduced processing hours during holiday periods. MOHRE's work permit block triggers on the 17th of each month regardless of holidays.
• Payroll cut-off dates: If your payroll cycle ends during a holiday period, adjust your cut-off date to capture all working days, overtime, and leave balances before the break.
• Holiday overtime records: If employees will work during the holiday, confirm in advance whether you will offer compensatory days off or pay the 150% rate. Record the decision and the hours worked.
• Leave balance adjustments: If any employees are on annual leave during the holiday period, make sure the public holiday days are excluded from their leave count.
• Communication: Notify employees in advance which days are official public holidays and whether any staff are required to work.
Zoho Payroll's configurable leave types let you define public holidays as a separate leave category, keeping them distinct from annual leave and sick leave in your records. For WPS submission deadlines and timing rules, see the WPS Salary Transfer Deadlines & Payment Timing Rules guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do employees get paid for public holidays in the UAE?
Yes. All private-sector employees receive full pay for official public holidays, regardless of contract type or length of service. This is mandated by Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.
Q2. What if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday (the standard weekend for most private-sector companies), the government typically announces whether the holiday will be observed on an adjacent weekday. Follow the official Cabinet announcement for each holiday.
Q3. Are Islamic holiday dates fixed?
No. Islamic holidays follow the Hijri (lunar) calendar, so their Gregorian dates shift approximately 10–11 days earlier each year. The UAE government confirms exact dates through an official moon sighting announcement, usually a few days before each holiday.
Q4. Does a public holiday extend an employee's notice period?
Public holidays that fall during a notice period are treated as paid days and do count toward the notice period. The notice period is not extended by public holidays unless the employment contract states otherwise.
Stay Ahead of Every Holiday Payroll Cycle
Public holidays are predictable, and your payroll should be too. Zoho Payroll's configurable leave types, custom overtime formulas, and WPS-compliant processing make sure holiday periods do not disrupt your payroll cycle.
Start your free trial and set up your holiday payroll rules today.