UAE 2027 Public Holidays: Ramadan Expected to Begin on February 8
Astronomical calculations point to Monday, February 8, 2027, as the expected start of Ramadan in the UAE.
The official search for the crescent moon is set for the evening of Sunday, February 7, 2027. If the UAE Moon Sighting Committee observes the moon that night, worshippers will perform their first Tarawih prayers before starting the daily fast on February 8. Throughout the holy month, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, refraining from food, drink, and smoking while focusing on prayer, charity, and community.
Key Break Dates on the 2027 Calendar
Because Islamic months run on lunar cycles, every projected date remains subject to official crescent sightings, but astronomical models give early sight of how the year’s long weekends will line up.
The year kicks off with a public holiday on Friday, January 1, 2027, creating a three-day weekend before offices reopen on Monday, January 4.
Following Ramadan, which lasts either 29 or 30 days, Eid Al Fitr is expected to begin around March 9 or March 10, 2027. The official break is projected to run from March 9 through March 11 or 12. If Ramadan spans a full 30 days, March 12 gets added to the public holiday schedule, creating a four-day official break that bridges directly into the weekend for a potential six-day stretch off work.
Later in the spring, Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha are expected to run from May 15 to May 18, 2027. That sequence begins with Arafah Day on Saturday, May 15, followed by Eid Al Adha from Sunday, May 16 through May 18.
Further down the calendar, the Islamic New Year is expected on Sunday, June 6, 2027, while the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday is projected for Saturday, August 14, 2027. The public holiday calendar rounds out with Eid Al Etihad on December 2 and 3.
What the Dates Mean for Planning
Residents booking annual leave can target March and May for extended time off. Combining regular weekend days with the anticipated Eid Al Fitr break in mid-March could unlock nearly a week off work using minimal formal leave.
Businesses and operational teams need to factor reduced daily working hours into their early 2027 project timelines. Ramadan shifts working schedules across both public and private sectors, followed by potential multi-day office closures during the March and May Eid periods.
