How to turn UAE National Day holidays into a five, six or nine-day break.
Dubai: The UAE’s final public holiday of 2026 will be National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, offering residents one more opportunity to extend their time off before the year ends.
With some smart leave planning, employees can turn the two-day public holiday into a longer break, depending on how many annual leave days they choose to use.
Depending on how you use your annual leave, one, two or three leave days could turn the UAE National Day break into five, six or even nine consecutive days off.
How long is the UAE National Day holiday?
The UAE’s official National Day public holiday lasts two days, falling on December 2 and 3 for both public- and private-sector employees. In 2026, the dates fall on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, the dates could potentially be shifted to the beginning or end of the week. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the UAE Cabinet can transfer eligible public holidays to the start or end of the working week through an official decision, although this provision does not apply to Eid holidays.
If the National Day holiday is moved, residents could potentially enjoy a four-day break when it is combined with the weekend.
Option 1: Take one day of leave for a five-day break
If the National Day holidays remain on Wednesday and Thursday, employees could take Friday, December 4 as annual leave.
This would create a five-day break from Wednesday, December 2 to Sunday, December 6, combining the two public holidays with one annual leave day and the weekend.
It could be a useful option for employees who have limited annual leave but still want to make the most of the National Day break.
Option 2: Take two days of leave for a six-day break
Employees with two annual leave days to spare could take Monday, November 30 and Tuesday, December 1.
Combined with the National Day holidays and the following weekend, this would give them six consecutive days off, from November 30 to December 5.
Combined with the weekend before the leave days and the two National Day holidays, this would create six consecutive days off, from Saturday, November 28 to Thursday, December 3.
Employees would return to work on Friday, December 4, assuming they follow a standard Monday-to-Friday working week.
Option 3: Take three days of leave for a nine-day break
For the longest break under this arrangement, employees could take Monday, November 30, Tuesday, December 1 and Friday, December 4 as annual leave.
This would connect the preceding weekend with two annual leave days, the two National Day holidays, another day of annual leave and the following weekend, giving employees nine consecutive days away from work, from Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6.
The result would be nine consecutive days away from work, from Saturday, November 28 to Sunday, December 6.
Check with your employer before booking leave
Employees should check their company’s annual leave policy before making plans, particularly if leave requests need to be submitted in advance.
Employers may have operational requirements that affect when annual leave can be approved, so employees should submit requests through their company’s official leave system and plan ahead.
Under UAE Labour Law, private-sector employees are entitled to annual leave, while official public holidays are treated as separate paid days off.
Note: These dates and leave combinations are based on the current 2026 calendar and are for planning purposes only. They should not be considered confirmed. Any changes to the UAE National Day holiday dates will be officially announced by the UAE authorities for both public- and private-sector employees.
