It’s time to whip your calendar out again for the next round of Middle East holiday travel planning over the next year! Here’s what to expect in 2026:
We’re looking at available dates when travel is possible so you can start setting any extra leave dates you may need from work, budget how many trips you can afford, and narrow down your Middle East travel bucket list.
UAE Public Holidays 2026
Religious holidays are always subject to change as the Hijri (Islamic) calendar is based on moon sightings and varies by approximately 10 days to the Gregorian calendar every year.
- New Year’s Day – 1 January 2025 – follows the Gregorian calendar, always a fixed day off (no extra public holiday to be given)
- Ramadan starts – (Ramadan 1) – est 1 March to 30 March 2025 – not marked by a holiday but a change in business and school hours.
- Eid Al-Fitr – (Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3) – est 31 March to 2 April 2025 – can be marked by anything up to one week of holidays, TBC moon sighting.
- Arafat Day – (Dhul al-Hijjah 9) – est 5 June 2025 – linked to Eid holidays, confirmed by moon sighting.
- Eid Al Adha – (Dhul al-Hijjah 10-12) – est 6 to 8 June 2025 – can be marked by up to one week in holidays – final announcement TBC.
- Hijri New Year (Muharram 1) – est 26 June 2025 – usually marked with a public & private sector holiday –
- Mouloud (The Prophet’s Birthday) – est 5 September 2025- not always observed as a public holiday
- Commemoration Day (previously known as Martyr’s Day ) – 30 November 2025 – not always a day off
- Eid al Etihad – 2 & 3 December 2025 (previously referred to as National Day) – always a 2-day break, usually attached to a weekend; an extra day is likely to be granted this year giving 5 days
NB Christmas Day and other Christian holidays are not formally observed. Many employers will be flexible, however, in granting employees a day off, but it will come from their annual leave allowances.
UAE School Holidays 2025-26
(Please note these vary by curriculum and Emirate; we have based this on guidance from ADEK and KHDA for schools starting with a September academic year. April starting curriculums will vary. Please check with your individual schools.)
- Winter break – 14 December 2024 to 6 January 2025 [3 weeks]
- Midterm break – around one week commencing 9 February 2025, varies in length; some schools only
- Spring break – 22 March to 6 April 2025 [2 weeks]
- Summer break – commences on 27 June 2025 for most schools. Students likely to return on 25 August or 5 September 2025 [8-9 weeks]
- Autumn mid-term break – around one week commencing 13 or 20 October 2025, varies in length, some schools only
- Winter break – 13 December 2025 to 5 January 2026 [3 weeks]
- Mid-term break – around one week commencing 16 February 2026; some schools only
- Spring break – Expected to be combined with Eid Al-Fitr – approximately 20 March 2026 to 5 April 2026
Where to Head at Each UAE Holiday Break
Note that travelling over popular UAE holidays always adds to the cost. The earlier you commit to dates, the better the price you will pay, but you may risk not having the day off school/work as intended!
Winter Break
Approx 3 weeks
Weather in the UAE: Highs around 24°C. The water temperature can be cool, and occasional rain possible
With most schools getting three weeks off at this time, it’s ideal to make some longer escapes, both to take advantage of the cooler weather within the Middle East region and to take short flights to the best winter wonderlands!
- Our best winter getaways coming soon!
- Why not take the opportunity to try one of the UAE’s beautiful glamping spots?
If you are staying in the UAE, just be mindful that it’s a very popular time of year for inbound visitors, too. Attractions that generally have no queues are at their busiest over winter break, so do factor this in.
Some schools may also grant a few days in mid-February – see our UAE February half-term ideas.
Spring Break
Approx 2 weeks – [2024 was an anomaly with 3 weeks due to the timing of Ramadan and Eid al Fitr]
Weather in the UAE: Highs around 30°C, sunny days most likely, but it can rain
A perfect opportunity for exploring locally and taking advantage of the early summer sun. Do note it’s also one of the busiest times for inbound tourism to Dubai and the UAE, as it usually coincides with Easter. Ramadan will commence approximately on 11 March and will end on or about 9 April, followed by 3-4 days of public holidays.
Why not try:
Eid Al-Fitr
Approx 5 days (but likely combined with spring break 2025)
Weather in the UAE: High 30°C’s, hot out, but water is still refreshing
Here’s our full list of Eid Getaway suggestions at home and away.
- Some slightly cooler but sunny destinations to try include Cyprus, Turkey or Greece.
- Best beach resorts for families in the UAE
- Why not try one of these hotel resorts with a private pool
- Check out some of these incredible UAE wildlife experiences
Eid-al-Adha
Approx 4 days
Weather in the UAE: Extremely hot, expect low 40°Cs.
As we approach the hottest months of summer, if you’re not already plotting an early escape from the UAE for summer, why not try:
- Catching the start of the Khareef in Salalah, Oman (could be a little bit early at Eid 2025)
- Try an island escape to one of the nearby Indian Ocean Islands
Hijri New Year Observed
27 June 2025 [3 day weekend]
Weather in UAE: Scorching! Expect 43°C+ and humidity
Falling most likely on a Thursday, we anticipate that Friday 27 June may be called as a public holiday in 2025. This will make for a great early summer getaway. If you’re staying in the UAE over the summer, we suggest keeping it local with a staycation, look out for hotels with fabulous pool deals.
Check out some of our indoor ideas for Dubai and indoor ideas for Abu Dhabi, and a great opportunity to play hometown tourist.
Commemoration Day / Eid al Etihad Long Weekend
Saturday, 29 November to Wednesday, 3 December 2025 [5 days]
Weather in the UAE: Expect temperatures up to 28°C
There are plenty of good reasons to stick around the UAE for this holiday. While it might be cooling for the beach and swimming, it’s the perfect weather for camping and exploring outdoors.
We suggest you try our UAE winter weekend ideas at this time of year.
Desert camping is a very popular option, as is road-tripping to Muscat in Oman (beware, it’s also the busiest weekend for border crossing).
If you are coming to Abu Dhabi, don’t miss our guide to 40+ things to do for Free (or really cheap). Also, see our guides to popular Abu Dhabi attractions, including:
And if you’re looking for places to stay, check out our guide to Saadiyat Island Resorts, and our favourite Desert Resorts in the UAE.
Going further afield?
4 days are long enough to include a short flight, too. Here are some of our favourite suggested short getaways from Dubai, or try this selection of new destinations from Abu Dhabi flying WizzAir.
Planning Tools for Flights out of Dubai
We use Skyscanner as our starting point for any search to see what approximate flight prices and accommodation costs we should expect. Give it a shot here:
Don’t forget you can search from more than just DXB! Why not also try starting with:
- AUH for Abu Dhabi
- DWC for Al Maktoum Airport
- SHJ for Sharjah
- AE for all UAE airports
- If you’d like to get creative and see where you can go, use “Anywhere” as your destination.
Note for overseas visitors on UAE School Holidays
If you are trying to work out how busy attractions will be in the UAE, it’s more important to note when other countries have their school holidays, when inbound tourism to the UAE is at its busiest.
During the cooler months, particularly December, Christmas, and New Year and Spring Break—early April, expat families are more likely to stay. But during the hottest summer months, July and August, many expatriate families leave the country.
Hotels can also be heavily discounted in the summer, but this is to reflect that it’s nearly impossible to be outside during the day, and many outdoor activities are suspended. We talk more about what to expect in Summer here.
For more on the best time to visit the UAE, check out this article.
Don’t forget to jump over to our Family Travel Middle East chat group to discuss ideas with fellow parents. We will update in the group and our Facebook Page as we become aware of any great last-minute deals.
Dates are subject to moon sightings and official Government announcements and can be changed last minute. This page contains affiliate links which may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full terms of use and disclosure policy here.
The Family Travel in the Middle East team of travel writers are all parents based in the Middle East, sharing first hand experiences and reviews from across the region to help you plan your next family adventure.
