The UAE government has confirmed a four-day Eid Al Fitr holiday for private sector employees.
Faithful across the country began fasting for the holy month of Ramadan on February 18, and this early announcement of the Eid Al Fitr holidays allows employees and businesses to plan ahead for the festive break.
According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre), the holiday for private-sector employees will run from Thursday, March 19, to Saturday, March 21. The authority clarified that if the holy month of Ramadan lasts 30 days, the private sector holiday will be extended to Sunday, March 22, 2026. In the UAE, Sunday is also the official weekend.
The announcement ensures that both employers and employees can prepare for the upcoming holiday, which is a key period for travel, celebrations, and community activities.
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Eid Al Fitr marks the conclusion of the holy month of fasting and is widely celebrated across the country with family gatherings, prayers, and cultural traditions.
The end of Ramadan will still depend on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent. In the UAE, the moon-sighting committee will meet on the 29th day of Ramadan, which falls on March 18, to observe the crescent moon marking the beginning of Shawwal. If the crescent moon is sighted on the evening of March 18, Ramadan will end that day.
If the moon is not sighted, Ramadan will be completed as 30 days, meaning fasting will continue on March 19, and Eid Al Fitr will begin on March 20. This process follows the Islamic lunar calendar, in which each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon.
If a four-day holiday is not enough, here’s how, with smart planning, you can maximise this shorter break. By requesting annual leave from Monday to Thursday, March 16-19, it is possible to enjoy nine days off, from Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, March 22, including weekends and the Eid holidays.
As the weather across the UAE and neighbouring countries remains pleasant, many residents are choosing shorter trips within the GCC instead of long international holidays.
Travel agents said that residents are increasingly planning road trips to nearby destinations like Oman and Musandam, or combining Umrah in the last 10 days of Ramadan with short leisure breaks within Saudi Arabia during the Eid holidays.
