Six Days Off Work Could Be Coming for UAE Workers in March 2027
Astronomical calculations project that Ramadan 2027 will begin on Monday, February 8, giving UAE residents an early look at their holiday calendars for the year ahead. According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society, the holy month is expected to run for either 29 or 30 days, setting the baseline for subsequent public holiday schedules.
Final dates for all Islamic observances remain subject to official crescent moon sightings confirmed by UAE authorities.
How the 2027 Holiday Schedule Shapes Up
Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 dictates that Eid public holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar directly. Unlike fixed national holidays, these observances cannot be reassigned to the start or end of a work week to build artificial long weekends.
If Ramadan lasts 29 days, Eid Al Fitr will fall on Tuesday, March 9, 2027, following moon sightings on the evening of March 8. If the crescent is not sighted that evening, Ramadan will complete 30 days, moving Eid Al Fitr to Wednesday, March 10.
Under current holiday regulations, completing 30 days of Ramadan adds the 30th day as a paid public holiday alongside the first three days of Shawwal. Should that scenario play out, the official holiday would span four days from Tuesday, March 9 through Friday, March 12. Combined with the regular weekend, that alignment creates a continuous six-day stretch off work through Sunday, March 14.
Later in the year, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are projected to deliver a four-day public holiday running from Saturday, May 15 to Tuesday, May 18, 2027, pending the sighting of the Dhu Al Hijja crescent.
What It Means for Your Work Calendar
Public- and private-sector employees are entitled to three paid days off for the first three days of Shawwal for Eid Al Fitr, with an extra paid day added on Ramadan 30 if the fast extends to a full 30 days.
Residents working a standard Saturday-Sunday schedule stand to secure six consecutive days away from the office if Ramadan 30 lands on March 9 and Eid Al Fitr spans March 10 to 12, linking straight into the weekend of March 13 and 14.
