The UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) jointly announced on 3 June 2026 that Monday, 15 June will be a paid public holiday for both public- and private-sector employees to mark the Islamic New Year (1 Muharram 1448 AH). Work will resume on Tuesday, 16 June, effectively creating a three-day weekend.
![UAE Declares 15 June Public Holiday, Triggering Three-Day Weekend Travel Surge]()
Travel coordinators pressed for time can tap VisaHQ’s online platform to confirm entry requirements and secure visas for Oman, India or any other spur-of-the-moment destination. Through its dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), VisaHQ offers step-by-step guidance, digital document upload and courier options, reducing the risk of holiday plans being derailed by paperwork delays.
For travel managers and expatriates, the unexpected long weekend opens a prime window for short regional breaks just two weeks after the Eid Al Adha holiday. Airlines have already reported a spike in searches for Muscat, Salalah and coastal Indian destinations, while Dubai-based tour operators are promoting 48-hour ‘holiday sandwich’ packages that allow residents to use one day of annual leave to create a four-day getaway. Mobility practitioners should note that visa-issuance counters at federal ICP service centres and Dubai GDRFA will operate reduced hours from 14–16 June. Employers finalising entry permits or status changes for new assignees may need to account for a two-day processing lag. Free-zone authorities at DMCC and DIFC said e-channels remain available but document attestation desks will be closed. Airport capacity is another consideration: Dubai International handled a record 247,000 passengers on the Islamic New Year weekend in 2025, and authorities expect similar volumes this year despite lingering airline capacity cuts. DXB has advised travellers to arrive three hours before departure and to use smart-gate e-passport lanes where eligible.
Travel coordinators pressed for time can tap VisaHQ’s online platform to confirm entry requirements and secure visas for Oman, India or any other spur-of-the-moment destination. Through its dedicated UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), VisaHQ offers step-by-step guidance, digital document upload and courier options, reducing the risk of holiday plans being derailed by paperwork delays.
For travel managers and expatriates, the unexpected long weekend opens a prime window for short regional breaks just two weeks after the Eid Al Adha holiday. Airlines have already reported a spike in searches for Muscat, Salalah and coastal Indian destinations, while Dubai-based tour operators are promoting 48-hour ‘holiday sandwich’ packages that allow residents to use one day of annual leave to create a four-day getaway. Mobility practitioners should note that visa-issuance counters at federal ICP service centres and Dubai GDRFA will operate reduced hours from 14–16 June. Employers finalising entry permits or status changes for new assignees may need to account for a two-day processing lag. Free-zone authorities at DMCC and DIFC said e-channels remain available but document attestation desks will be closed. Airport capacity is another consideration: Dubai International handled a record 247,000 passengers on the Islamic New Year weekend in 2025, and authorities expect similar volumes this year despite lingering airline capacity cuts. DXB has advised travellers to arrive three hours before departure and to use smart-gate e-passport lanes where eligible.
