The Dates
Eid Al Adha, one of the most important occasions in the Islamic calendar, is expected to begin on Wednesday May 27, based on astronomical calculations by the Emirates Astronomical Society. Tuesday May 26 marks the Day of Arafah, the holiest day of the Hajj pilgrimage. Official dates are subject to confirmation following the moon sighting. The approved holiday is May 27–29, with most businesses closed through to Sunday May 31.
Business Planning
For companies with PRO services requirements, government offices will be closed for the duration. Visa applications, licence renewals and regulatory submissions should be completed before May 26 or scheduled for the first week of June. Payroll for May should account for the holiday — particularly for businesses with hourly workers where public holiday overtime rates apply.
For companies with filing deadlines, the corporate tax filing season continues through summer with a September 30 deadline. The Eid break reduces the available working days in May — teams should plan accordingly. Bookkeeping and month-end close procedures for May should be completed before the holiday begins.
Travel
Emirates has resumed Kuwait flights from May 1, with services scaling to five daily flights from May 21. flydubai and Air Arabia have restarted Doha services. For businesses with regional operations, the expanded flight network supports post-holiday business travel across the Gulf. Dubai's Global Village has extended its season to May 31 — one last opportunity before summer closure.
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Eid Al Adha falls in late May / early June 2026 based on the Islamic lunar calendar — the precise dates are confirmed only days before by moon-sighting committees, with announced UAE government holidays typically covering 9 Dhu al-Hijjah (Arafat Day) plus three days of Eid. For a UAE business, the practical impact is a 4–5 working-day shutdown of most ministries, courts, free-zone authorities, the FTA, MOHRE and the licensing departments. Private-sector operations remain open at their discretion; banks open on a limited schedule.
| Activity | Eid impact | Recommended timing |
|---|---|---|
| FTA filings (CT, VAT, registrations) | EmaraTax remains live; processing pauses | File before Eid week if possible |
| Visa applications (GDRFA/ICP) | Online intake continues; processing pauses | Submit at least 7 days before Eid |
| Court filings and hearings | Courts closed for Eid | Aligned to Eid recess calendar |
| Bank wire transfers | Reduced hours; international cut-off times | Plan SWIFT transfers in advance |
| Business signings and execution | Notary closed; remote execution possible via UAE Pass | Use e-signature where valid |
| DLD property transfers | Trustee offices closed | Pre-Eid or post-Eid bookings |
The Travel and Service-Delivery Squeeze
The Eid period coincides with peak outbound travel — UAE residents and GCC neighbours travel widely during the holiday. Practical effects: hotels in destination markets (London, Istanbul, Maldives, Bali, the Alps) command premium pricing; international flight loads are heavy; airport queues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi extend. For service businesses depending on UAE counterparts, lead-time should expand by 7–10 working days during the Eid window. Plans relying on FTA, ministry or bank action during Eid week typically slip.
Planning Posture
The defensive posture for businesses with transaction deadlines: identify any FTA, ministry or court deadline that falls in the Eid period and pull execution forward by 10 working days; advise clients of expected delays; staff a skeleton crew for time-sensitive operations. For Polaris clients, the firm's ongoing-service delivery does not interrupt — but counterparty-dependent activities (government filings, banking, third-party signing) follow the holiday rhythm.
- Government, FTA, courts and most licensing authorities close 4–5 working days around Eid Al Adha.
- Online portals (EmaraTax, ICP, UAE Pass) remain available but processing pauses.
- Travel pricing and queues spike; expect service-delivery lead times to expand 7–10 working days.
- Pull deadline-driven actions forward by 10 working days when they fall in the Eid window.
Polaris Perspective
Polaris manages ongoing corporate compliance including PRO services, filing deadlines and payroll — ensuring businesses stay compliant through holiday periods and seasonal scheduling challenges.
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