Eid Al Adha 2026 holidays confirmed across Gulf as UAE, Saudi Arabia and others announce breaks
Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait align holiday schedules for Eid period
DUBAI – Eid Al Adha 2026 is set to bring extended public holidays across several Gulf countries, with governments confirming official break periods for both public and private sector employees.
The festival, known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”, is observed by Muslims worldwide and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
The timing of the occasion is determined by the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent, which also establishes key Islamic dates such as Arafah Day.
This year, the announcements have highlighted notably long breaks in multiple countries, particularly where weekends extend the total holiday duration.
UAE
The UAE has confirmed a five-day official public sector holiday for Eid Al Adha 2026, with government employees set to be off from Monday, May 25 until Friday, May 29, 2026. When combined with the regular Saturday and Sunday weekend, this creates a potential nine-day extended break. Work across federal government departments will resume on Monday, June 1.
In Sharjah, government employees are set to receive an even longer pause from work due to the emirate’s four-day working week structure. With Friday, Saturday and Sunday already forming the weekend, the five-day Eid break effectively expands into a 10-day holiday period. This makes it one of the longest continuous breaks in the country for public sector staff.
Qatar
Qatar has confirmed its Eid Al Adha 2026 schedule based on astronomical calculations. The first day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH is expected to fall on Monday, May 18, while Wednesday, May 27, has been identified as the first day of Eid Al Adha. The Qatar Calendar House noted that although the Dhul Hijjah crescent will form on Saturday evening at 11.02pm Doha time, it will not be visible in Qatar or other Arab and Islamic countries as it will not have formed before sunset.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has announced a four-day public holiday for both public and private sector employees. The break will begin on the Day of Arafah, which falls on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Work is scheduled to resume on Sunday, May 31, with most employees observing regular weekends on Friday and Saturday. The structure ensures alignment across key religious observance dates during the Eid period.
Oman
Oman has confirmed that the Eid Al Adha holiday for both public and private sector employees will begin on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. According to the state news agency, official duties will resume on Sunday, May 31. The decision aligns both sectors under a unified holiday schedule, ensuring consistency across government and private operations during the festive period.
Bahrain
Bahrain has announced that ministries, government agencies and public institutions will close from the Day of Arafah through to the second day after Eid Al Adha. The holiday period runs from Tuesday, May 26 to Friday, May 29, 2026. As Friday falls within the break and is already a non-working day, it will be compensated with an additional day off on Sunday, May 31. This results in a six-day public sector holiday.
Kuwait
Kuwait has confirmed a six-day Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday for government employees following a Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. The break will run from Tuesday, May 26 to Sunday, May 31, with official work resuming on Monday, June 1. Some government departments that operate continuously will announce separate schedules based on operational needs.