Note from editor: The Islamic New Year has been confirmed for Monday, June 15th, for both public and private!
Eid Al Adha has barely wrapped up and Dubai residents are already doing what they do best – checking the calendar for the next day off. Honestly, it’s basically a hobby at this point. So, let’s get into it. The Islamic New Year is coming up, and the big question everyone’s asking is “are we getting a long weekend out of it?” I’ve got the answer to your question, so keep reading to find out more.
Be Careful There’s Only 2 Long Weekends Left In UAE! Here’s How To Plan!
When Is Islamic New Year 2026?
Based on current forecasts, the Islamic New Year, is expected to fall on either Tuesday, June 16 or Wednesday, June 17, 2026. With most UAE holiday calendars pointing to June 16 as the most likely date. That said, nothing is fully locked in just yet, because the final date depends on the official moon sighting closer to the time.
So Will It Be A Long Weekend?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Since the holiday is expected to land on a Tuesday, there’s a real chance the UAE Cabinet steps in and moves it to Monday, June 15 instead. If that happens, you’re looking at a three-day weekend from Saturday, June 13 to Monday, June 15. While this seems like the most likely (and preferable outcome), it’s important to keep in mind nothing is official until the Cabinet makes its call. So don’t go booking those flight tickets just yet.
How To Make Sure You Score A Long Weekend No Matter What
Here’s how you can play it smart with your annual leave, to make sure no matter what happens you still get that well-desrved long weekend.
If the holiday lands on Tuesday, June 16 and doesn’t get moved, take Monday, June 15 off and you’ve got yourself a four-day weekend from Saturday to Tuesday. One day of annual leave, four days of freedom. That’s a solid ROI.
If it ends up falling on Wednesday, June 17 instead and stays put, you’ve got two options. Book Monday and Tuesday off and your weekend starts from Saturday, running all the way through to Wednesday. That’s 5 days straight. Prefer to extend the back end? Take Thursday and Friday off instead, and you’re stretching the break from Wednesday to Sunday. Either way, one public holiday plus 2 days of leave gets you a very generous 5-day weekend.
The trick is to get your leave request in early before everyone else in the office has the same idea. You’ve been warned.
How Can The Government Can Move Holidays Around?
It’s actually a pretty great rule. A new public holiday law came into effect on January 1, 2025, which allows certain holidays to be shifted to the start or end of the working week if they happen to fall mid-week. The whole point is to give residents longer, uninterrupted breaks rather than a random Wednesday off that messes up the week. Think of it as the government doing you a solid.
The only catch? The Cabinet has to officially decide to move a holiday each time. It doesn’t happen automatically. So the wait for the announcement is very real. Also worth knowing this rule doesn’t apply to Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. Those dates are tied to specific Islamic observances and stay fixed.
Keep an eye on Gulf Buzz, and we’ll update you as soon as the news drops. In the meantime, maybe start shortlisting your staycation options, just in case. We’ll definitely be there to give you some fab recommendations!
