The UAE and Kuwait have officially announced the holiday schedules for Eid al-Adha 2026 across public, private, and education sectors.
These announcements allow millions of employees and students to plan for the Islamic festival of sacrifice, which is a major public holiday in Muslim-majority countries.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Education confirmed a nine-day holiday for all public and private schools, which includes weekends [4]. For the workforce, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation established different durations based on the employment sector. Public sector employees will receive three official days off [3], while private sector employees are granted a four-day paid holiday starting on a Tuesday [2].
Kuwait's Cabinet has also finalized the break for its public sector. The holiday will run from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to Sunday, May 31, 2026 [1]. This constitutes a six-day break for government employees. According to the official announcement, work in Kuwait's public sector will resume on June 1, 2026 [1].
The variation in holiday lengths in the UAE reflects the different regulatory frameworks governing the public and private sectors. While the public sector follows a standard three-day law [3], the extended nine-day break for students ensures a comprehensive seasonal hiatus for families across the emirates [4].
Official sources in both nations said that these dates are set to facilitate the religious observances associated with the festival. The coordination between the ministries ensures that essential services remain operational while providing the necessary time for communal prayers, and family gatherings.
“UAE schools will observe a nine-day holiday, including weekends.”
The divergence in holiday lengths—particularly the nine-day break for UAE students versus the shorter public sector break—highlights the regional priority of familial celebration during Eid al-Adha. By announcing these dates in advance, the governments of the UAE and Kuwait aim to stabilize economic activity and travel logistics during one of the most significant religious events of the year.
