
Need to calculate exactly how many working days fall between two dates in the UAE? This free calculator instantly counts business days while automatically excluding weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and all UAE public holidays. Whether you're planning a project timeline in Dubai, calculating payroll periods in Abu Dhabi, or determining contract durations anywhere in the Emirates, get accurate results in seconds.
What Does This Working Days Calculator Do?
This UAE-specific working days calculator removes the guesswork from business day calculations. Simply enter your start date and end date, and the tool instantly displays the total number of working days—excluding all weekends and official UAE public holidays.
Key benefits of using this calculator:
- UAE-Specific Accuracy: Pre-loaded with all official UAE public holidays including Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, and National Day
- Updated Weekend Structure: Reflects the UAE's current Saturday-Sunday weekend (implemented January 2022)
- Instant Results: No manual counting or cross-referencing calendars required
- Custom Options: Add or remove specific dates based on your company's holiday schedule
Trusted by HR professionals, project managers, and business owners across Online Calculator UAE, this tool follows guidelines from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) and current UAE labour law provisions.
UAE Working Days Calculator - Advanced Widget for WordPress Elementor Copy this entire code into an HTML widget in Elementor
How the Working Days Calculation Works
Understanding how business days are calculated helps you verify results and plan more effectively. Here's the methodology this calculator uses:
The Basic Formula
Working Days = Total Calendar Days − Weekend Days − Public Holidays
The calculator counts every day between your selected start and end dates (inclusive), then subtracts all Saturdays, Sundays, and official UAE public holidays that fall within that range.
Step-by-Step Breakdown
Step 1: Enter your start date (the first day of your calculation period)
Step 2: Enter your end date (the last day of your calculation period)
Step 3: The calculator identifies all calendar days in the range
Step 4: Weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) are automatically excluded
Step 5: UAE public holidays falling on weekdays are subtracted
Step 6: Your total working days are displayed instantly
Important Notes About UAE Working Days
The UAE federal government and most private sector companies follow a Monday to Friday working week since January 2022. However, the Sharjah government operates a four-day week (Monday to Thursday), with a three-day weekend.
Working hours in the private sector are typically 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week, as specified in Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. During Ramadan, working hours are reduced by 2 hours daily for all employees.
Some industries like hospitality, retail, and healthcare may operate differently. If your company follows a non-standard schedule, you can use the calculator's custom options to adjust accordingly.
Practical Examples: Working Days Calculations in the UAE
See how the calculator works with real-world scenarios that UAE professionals encounter regularly.
Example 1: Project Timeline in DIFC
Scenario: Fatima is a project manager at a consultancy firm in DIFC. Her client needs a financial audit completed, and she needs to determine how many actual working days her team has between February 1, 2026February 28, 2026.
Calculation:
- Total calendar days: 28
- Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays): 8 days
- UAE public holidays in range: 0
- Total working days: 20
Result: Fatima's team has exactly 20 working days to complete the audit. She can now allocate resources and set realistic milestones.
Example 2: Payroll Calculation in Abu Dhabi
Scenario: Ahmed works in HR for a construction company in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi. He needs to calculate working days for March 2026 to process the monthly payroll. The month includes the Eid Al Fitr holiday period.
Calculation:
- Period: March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026
- Total calendar days: 31
- Weekends (Saturdays and Sundays): 9 days
- Eid Al Fitr holidays (expected March 19-21, 2026): 2 weekdays affected
- Total working days: 20
Result: Ahmed can now accurately calculate daily wage entitlements and overtime for the 20 working days in March.
Example 3: Employment Contract Duration in Dubai Marina
Scenario: Sarah is signing a fixed-term contract for a marketing role at a company in Dubai Marina. Her contract states she must complete 250 working days starting from January 5, 2026. She wants to know her approximate end date.
Calculation:
- Start date: January 5, 2026
- Required working days: 250
- The calculator counts forward, excluding weekends and holidays
- UAE public holidays in the period: approximately 10-12 days
- Estimated end date: December 7, 2026
Result: Sarah now knows her contract will likely conclude in early December 2026, helping her plan for any future job transitions. If you need to determine the specific calendar date from a certain number of days, our date tools can help.
UAE Public Holidays and Working Days: What You Need to Know
The UAE observes several official public holidays each year. Under current regulations, if a holiday falls on a weekend, it may be moved to the beginning or end of the week (except for Eid holidays). This ensures employees receive their entitled days off.
2026 UAE Public Holidays (Forecasted)
Based on astronomical calculations and the UAE Cabinet Resolution on Public Holidays:
- New Year's Day: January 1 (Thursday)
- Eid Al Fitr: Expected March 19-21 (Thursday-Saturday)*
- Arafat Day: Expected May 26 (Tuesday)*
- Eid Al Adha: Expected May 27-29 (Wednesday-Friday)*
- Islamic New Year: Expected June 16 (Tuesday)*
- Prophet Muhammad's Birthday: Expected August 25 (Tuesday)*
- UAE National Day: December 2-3 (Wednesday-Thursday)
*Islamic holiday dates are subject to moon sighting confirmation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the old weekend: The UAE shifted from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday weekends in January 2022
- Forgetting Ramadan: While not a public holiday, working hours are reduced by 2 hours daily—factor this into project timelines
- Ignoring Islamic calendar variations: Dates for Eid and other Islamic holidays can shift by a day based on moon sightings
- Assuming Sharjah follows the same schedule: Sharjah government operates Monday-Thursday with a three-day weekend
Expert Tips for Accurate Planning
Check official announcements from The Official Portal of the UAE Government before finalizing critical deadlines around Islamic holidays. Moon sighting can adjust dates by a day in either direction.
Start Calculating Your Working Days Now
Stop manually counting days on your calendar. Use this free UAE working days calculator to get instant, accurate results for any date range. Whether you're handling payroll in Jebel Ali, managing construction timelines on Yas Island, or planning resource allocation in Sharjah, this tool saves hours of manual calculation.
For official UAE labour law guidance, always refer to the MOHRE Workers' Rights Portal. For questions about public holidays, visit The Official Portal of the UAE Government.