The United Arab Emirates has announced that Thursday, January 1, 2026, will be an official paid public holiday for employees in the private sector, marking New Year’s Day. The decision was issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in line with a Cabinet resolution on national holidays that applies to both public and private sectors, giving private sector workers the same official day off as public employees.
In addition to the paid New Year holiday, Friday, January 2, 2026, will be designated a remote-working day for federal government employees, allowing staff to balance work commitments with family time. Those whose roles require on-site presence are expected to be at work as usual. The announcement provides workers across the UAE with an extended start-of-year break as festivities ramp up nationwide.
