ABU DHABI (Kashmir English): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially confirmed January 1 as the first public holiday of 2026 on the occasion of New Year.
January 1 has been declared a paid day off nationwide and special remote-work arrangements have been announced for government employees.
According to a circular issued by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), Thursday, January 1, 2026, will be an official paid holiday for all federal public sector employees.
The holiday is in line with the emirates’ official public holiday law and Cabinet-approved calendar.
The authority also extended its best wishes to the UAE leadership, government, and people, while directing all organisations to ensure smooth operations on the holiday.
Remote work on Jan 2
Following New Year’s celebrations on January 1, January 2 (Friday) will be observed as a remote-work day for federal government employees. The decision will help staff balance work responsibilities with family time.
Federal government employees whose roles require on-site presence will continue to report to work as usual.
With the weekend falling on Saturday and Sunday, the first official working day for public-sector employees in 2026 will be Monday, January 5.
For private sector employees, January 1, 2026, will also be a paid public holiday. The decision follows a Cabinet resolution covering official holidays for both public and private sectors.
However, it remains unclear whether private sector employees will be offered a remote-work option on Friday, January 2.
Sharjah announces four-day break
The Sharjah Department of Human Resources (SDHR) has confirmed that the New Year Day will be observed on Thursday, January 1.
However, for all Sharjah government entities, authorities, and institutions, official working hours in Sharjah will resume on Monday, January 5, except for shift-based employees.
On the occasion, SDHR extended warm congratulations to the UAE leadership and people, wishing continued progress and prosperity in the new year.
New Year celebrations
With the January 1 confirmed as the paid holiday, residents, expats, and visitors across the UAE are preparing for celebrations.
Dubai is expected to be one of the world’s top New Year destinations, with fireworks, drone shows, concerts, and beach parties planned at locations including Global Village, Atlantis The Palm, Bluewaters Island, and other landmarks.
Displays are set to begin early Wednesday, December 31, and conclude at midnight with authorities expected to announce public transport schedules and road closures in the coming weeks.
Ras Al Khaimah is planning a 15-minute fireworks display stretching across 6km of coastline. The show will feature more than 2,300 drones, pyrotechnics, and lasers, with officials aiming to set a Guinness World Record for the largest single firework ever launched.
After Jan 1, UAE residents will next observe a public holiday at the end of March for Eid ul Fitr.
The longest predicted public holiday of 2026 is Eid ul Adha, which is expected to offer a six-day long weekend in May, based on current forecasts.
