UAE public holidays in 2026 and your property deal: when DLD, banks and visa services stop

Most overseas buyers fly in for a single week to sign, transfer and start their residency paperwork. If that week lands on an Eid, the working part of it can shrink to two days. UAE holidays are long, the Islamic ones move with the lunar calendar, and the final dates are often confirmed only days in advance. The calendar belongs in your planning before you book flights, not after.

The 2026 calendar, and a first look at 2027

Holidays are set by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, in force since 1 January 2025 and applied to the public and private sectors alike — although the number of days off can still differ between them. Eid Al Adha this year showed how much: federal government staff were off from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May, nine days in a row with the weekends, while private-sector employees had four paid days, 26 to 29 May. Sharjah’s government took longer still.

The one major holiday left in 2026 is National Day (Eid Al Etihad) on 2 and 3 December, a Wednesday and Thursday this year. The rules allow holidays to be shifted to the start or end of the week, so a long weekend is possible; the final arrangement is usually announced close to the date.

For 2027, astronomical estimates point to the following, subject to moon sighting:

• Ramadan from roughly early February to early March, with shortened government working hours throughout.
• Eid Al Fitr around 9–10 March, typically three to four days off.
• Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha in mid-May — traditionally the longest government break of the year.
• Islamic New Year in early June, one day off for both sectors.

What stops when the country is on holiday

Step in the deal	What happens over a holiday
Transfer at a registration trustee office	Offices close; Dubai REST only offers slots after the break
Manager’s cheques and AED transfers	Not issued; payments settle on the next working day
Seller’s mortgage payoff and liability letter	Pushed back with the banks
Buyer’s valuation and loan release	Paused, while the pre-approval clock keeps running
Developer NOC for a resale	Sales teams may work; the NOC desk usually does not
Medical test, biometrics, visa issue	Online filing works; anything needing an officer waits

We walked through the transfer day itself in how ownership changes hands in Dubai.

Planning around it

Keep a clear week between any expected holiday and your target transfer date. A holiday that is announced late shifts the whole chain, and the flights are already paid for.

Read the deadline in the sale agreement. The Form F memorandum between buyer and seller normally sets a completion date, and holidays count towards it. If that date falls inside an Eid, agree an extension in writing now rather than argue about penalties later.

During Ramadan, expect shorter days: an afternoon appointment at a government office may simply not happen. And if you cannot be in Dubai for the transfer, a power of attorney works — but one signed abroad must be legalised, which also depends on consulate working days.

If the purchase is for a visa

A holiday adds a pause between receiving the title deed and applying for residency. The Golden Visa for property worth AED 2m or more can be filed as soon as the title is issued, but no one will schedule a medical test or biometrics over Eid. How the thresholds work across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah is set out in our 2026 Golden Visa guide, and the two-year route from AED 750,000 in this piece.

Planning a trip to close? Check your dates against the holiday calendar and our Golden Visa guide so the transfer and the visa filing fit into one visit.