National day
UAE National Day 2026: Eid Al Etihad
The 55th Eid Al Etihad falls on Wednesday 2 December 2026: the date in both calendars, the public holiday as the government announces it, and the official events, each with its source.
Days to go
60
Wednesday 2 December 2026
22 Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH
in 60 days
The date
| Day | Date | Hijri (Umm al-Qura) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid Al Etihad, the 55th | Wednesday 2 December 2026 | 22 Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH | 22 Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH |
Hijri dates are worked out on the Umm al-Qura calendar.
The public holiday
The days off for 2026 have not been announced yet.
Last year, 2025
Monday 1 – Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 2 days
Monday and Tuesday, for the federal government and the private sector alike; work resumed on Wednesday 3 December.
- Federal Authority for Government Human Resources — Federal government: Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 17 November 2025
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — Private sector: Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 17 November 2025read in the Internet Archive's copy of 18 January 2026: mohre.gov.ae refuses connections from outside the UAE
Official events and fireworks
Gulf events calendarNo official event or fireworks display has been announced yet for UAE National Day 2026.
Only events an official body has announced appear here — the government or its national day committee, the state news agency, or an official events calendar — each with its day, time, place and source.
What the day marks
The United Arab Emirates was established on 2 December 1971. Its founding rulers, led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had signed the declaration of the union and its constitution, the moment the country marks as Union Pledge Day, and the day of the union is commemorated as Eid Al Etihad.
- WAM (Emirates News Agency) — The union of 2 December 1971, commemorated as Eid Al Etihad; 2025's was the 54th · 18 July 2025
Questions
- When is UAE National Day 2026?
- Wednesday 2 December 2026, which is 22 Jumada al-Akhirah 1448 AH in the Umm al-Qura calendar.
- Is UAE National Day 2026 a public holiday?
- The days off for 2026 have not been announced yet. Last year: Monday 1 – Tuesday 2 December 2025.
- What does UAE National Day commemorate?
- The United Arab Emirates was established on 2 December 1971. Its founding rulers, led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, had signed the declaration of the union and its constitution, the moment the country marks as Union Pledge Day, and the day of the union is commemorated as Eid Al Etihad.
- Are there fireworks or official events for UAE National Day 2026?
- None has been announced officially yet. This page adds each one, with its day, time and place, once an official body announces it.
- Why is it called Eid Al Etihad?
- Eid Al Etihad means Union Day: the UAE commemorates the day of its union, 2 December 1971, under that name.
Sources
- WAM (Emirates News Agency) — The union of 2 December 1971, commemorated as Eid Al Etihad; 2025's was the 54th · 18 July 2025
- Federal Authority for Government Human Resources — Federal government: Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 17 November 2025
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation — Private sector: Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December 2025 · 17 November 2025read in the Internet Archive's copy of 18 January 2026: mohre.gov.ae refuses connections from outside the UAE
Other Gulf national days
All national daysOman National DayFriday 20 – Saturday 21 November 2026in 48 days
Bahrain National DayWednesday 16 – Thursday 17 December 2026in 74 days
Qatar National DayFriday 18 December 2026in 76 days
Kuwait National DayThursday 25 – Friday 26 February 2027in 145 days
Saudi National DayThursday 23 September 2027in 355 days