The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has announced that all private-sector staff in the United Arab Emirates will enjoy a paid holiday from Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026 to mark Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha. Work will resume on Monday 1 June, giving employees—and the companies that rely on them—advance clarity for travel planning, shift rosters and payroll cut-offs. Public holidays in the Gulf can be confirmed at relatively short notice, complicating the diaries of expatriate managers, visiting technicians and regional sales teams. By locking in the dates eight days ahead of the break, MOHRE gives HR and mobility departments extra runway to adjust assignment schedules, flight bookings and per-diem budgets. Companies with time-critical projects should factor in that many government service centres and free-zone counters will close, and that courier deliveries of passports or Emirates ID cards may be delayed. For inbound travellers, the long weekend traditionally triggers a spike in leisure demand.
![UAE Confirms Four-Day Eid Al Adha Break for Private-Sector Employees]()
To smooth any last-minute paperwork hurdles, VisaHQ offers an online one-stop shop for securing UAE tourist or business visas. Their dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets employers, mobility teams and individual travellers submit applications, track status updates and arrange courier pick-ups even when consular counters are shut for the holiday rush.
Airlines have already begun yield-management surcharges on popular regional routes such as Dubai–Cairo and Abu Dhabi–Amman. Hotels in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah—favoured staycation spots for residents—report occupancy above 90 per cent, and rental-car firms are urging customers to confirm reservations early. Border operations will continue, but travellers should expect heavier traffic at the Hatta and Khatmat Malaha crossings into Oman and at Dubai International Airport, which handled more than 361 departures on 18 May alone. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has advised using the UAEICP smart-pass app to pre-clear e-gates and avoid manual queues. Employers must ensure that salary payments scheduled during the holiday are processed before banks close for the break to stay compliant with the Wages Protection System. Where operational exigencies require staff to work, Article 29 (9) of the Labour Law mandates either a substitute day off or overtime pay calculated at the basic wage plus an additional 50 per cent. Mobility and HR teams should update policy FAQs and traveller briefings accordingly.
To smooth any last-minute paperwork hurdles, VisaHQ offers an online one-stop shop for securing UAE tourist or business visas. Their dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets employers, mobility teams and individual travellers submit applications, track status updates and arrange courier pick-ups even when consular counters are shut for the holiday rush.
Airlines have already begun yield-management surcharges on popular regional routes such as Dubai–Cairo and Abu Dhabi–Amman. Hotels in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah—favoured staycation spots for residents—report occupancy above 90 per cent, and rental-car firms are urging customers to confirm reservations early. Border operations will continue, but travellers should expect heavier traffic at the Hatta and Khatmat Malaha crossings into Oman and at Dubai International Airport, which handled more than 361 departures on 18 May alone. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has advised using the UAEICP smart-pass app to pre-clear e-gates and avoid manual queues. Employers must ensure that salary payments scheduled during the holiday are processed before banks close for the break to stay compliant with the Wages Protection System. Where operational exigencies require staff to work, Article 29 (9) of the Labour Law mandates either a substitute day off or overtime pay calculated at the basic wage plus an additional 50 per cent. Mobility and HR teams should update policy FAQs and traveller briefings accordingly.
