UAE National Day 2027: Dates and Holiday Planning

UAE National Day 2027 (Eid Al Etihad) falls on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 December. It is a fixed two-day public holiday that marks the 56th anniversary of the union of the seven emirates. Unlike the Islamic holidays on the UAE public holidays 2027 calendar, this date is set by the Gregorian calendar and confirmed in law, so it does not depend on moon sighting. That makes it the easiest holiday of the year for you to plan around.

When is UAE National Day 2027?

National Day is observed every year on 2 December. It commemorates the formal unification of the UAE in 1971 under the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The official public holiday runs two days, 2 to 3 December, under the UAE public holiday legislation.

In 2027, 2 and 3 December fall on Thursday and Friday. That connects directly with the weekend to produce a four-day break from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December, with no Cabinet transfer decision required.

Is UAE National Day date fixed every year?

Yes. UAE National Day is a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar (2 to 3 December), confirmed under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. It does not depend on moon sighting, unlike Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, the Hijri New Year or Prophet Muhammad Birthday.

One point often causes confusion. Commemoration Day (30 November) is not the same as National Day. Commemoration Day honours Emirati personnel who died in service and is marked with ceremonies, but it is not itself a paid public holiday. The paid holiday is the National Day period on 2 to 3 December.

What this means for UAE employers

National Day is a predictable fixture, which makes it easier to plan than the Islamic holidays. Even so, it lands in a busy year-end period alongside school holidays and year-end leave requests. Here is what we suggest you check:

• Roster coverage. Confirm minimum staffing for 2 to 6 December across retail, hospitality, events and construction. National Day usually drives higher footfall and event activity rather than a full shutdown, so you may need more cover, not less.
• Payroll cut-off. Bank closures around 2 to 3 December can affect WPS submission timing. Processing salary runs a day or two earlier keeps you clear of delays.
• Compensatory pay. Staff required to work through National Day are owed a compensatory day off, or at least 50% additional pay above the basic rate for the hours worked. Pay it in AED and track it against verified attendance records, not a flat assumption.

Because the date is fixed years in advance, National Day is the easiest UAE public holiday to pre-load into an attendance and payroll system well ahead of time. You can see how we handle holiday calendars and attendance reconciliation on the UAE hub page.

Frequently asked questions

Is UAE National Day 2027 confirmed?
Yes. Unlike the Islamic holidays, National Day (2 to 3 December) is a fixed date set by the Gregorian calendar and confirmed under UAE law. It is not subject to moon sighting.

How many days off is UAE National Day?
Two official public holiday days, 2 and 3 December. In 2027 they combine with the following weekend for a four-day break.

Is Commemoration Day (30 November) a paid public holiday?
No. Commemoration Day is a day of remembrance marked with ceremonies, but it is not a separate paid public holiday. The paid holiday period is 2 to 3 December (National Day).

Does UAE National Day apply to private sector employees?
Yes. National Day is a public holiday for both public and private sector employees across all seven emirates.

Sources

• UAE Government Portal (u.ae): Public holidays: National Day fixed dates and Spirit of the Union background. rel=nofollow, live-checked 2026-08-17.
• Khaleej Times: UAE holidays 2027 forecast: day-of-week confirmation for 2027. rel=nofollow, live-checked 2026-08-17.