Show caption: The celebrations will feature a series of events and activit…
Public sector employees will have a three-day holiday
The National
November 13, 2026
Private sector employees in the UAE will get a two-day paid holiday for the country's 55th National Day.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed that private sector workers will have Wednesday and Thursday, December 2 and 3, off to mark National Day, officially known as Eid Al Etihad.
Public sector employees, meanwhile, will have a three-day holiday from Wednesday, December 2, to Friday, December 4. Government offices will resume normal working hours on Monday, December 7, giving many employees a five-day break including the weekend.
Although under the UAE's unified government calendar, public and private sector employees should typically receive the same number of public holidays, this is the second time this year the two sectors have had different holiday periods.
During Eid Al Adha in May, private sector employees received a four-day break from May 26 to May 29, while public sector employees had five days off, from May 25 to Friday, May 29.
What is Eid Al Etihad?
Eid Al Etihad is the official name for UAE National Day. The Arabic term means 'Festival of the Union' and reflects the country's founding through the unification of its emirates.
The UAE was established on December 2, 1971, when six emirates came together to form the federation. Ras Al Khaimah joined on February 10, 1972.
The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's Founding Father, led the unification and became the country's first President.
National celebrations take place across the Emirates each year, with cultural performances, fireworks and a major official ceremony attended by the country's Rulers and senior officials.
Last year's main National Day celebration took place at Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum, ahead of its official opening to the public.
Updated:
November 13, 2026, 1:30 PM
Source: The National
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