Quick answer: From 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026, counting both days, there are 365 days: 261 working days and 104 weekend days with a Friday–Saturday weekend, or 52 weeks and 1 day.
How it's calculated
The number of days is the end date minus the start date. Counting the end date as well adds 1, which is what you want for periods such as "from the 1st to the 10th" (10 days), leave or a booking; leave it out for the number of nights or for "days until".
Working days are the counted days minus those that fall on the weekend you choose: Friday and Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, Saturday and Sunday in the UAE since 2022. Public holidays such as Eid are not removed, because their dates change every year.
For the gap shown in years, months and days, use days between two dates; to find the date a number of days from now, use add days to a date.
Worked examples
- 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2026, end included: 364 + 1 = 365 days, 261 working (Fri–Sat weekend)
- 1 Mar 2026 to 31 Mar 2026, end excluded: 30 days
Frequently asked questions
Should I include the end date?
Include it when both the first and last day are part of the period, such as days of leave. Exclude it to count nights or days until a date.
How many working days are in a year?
About 260 to 262 for a five-day week, before public holidays. 2026 has 261 with a Friday–Saturday weekend and 261 with a Saturday–Sunday weekend.
Are Gulf public holidays taken off?
No. Eid holidays follow the Hijri calendar and are announced each year, so subtract them yourself from the working days.
How many days are in a year?
365, or 366 in a leap year, when February has 29 days. The calculator uses the real calendar, so leap days are counted automatically.
Which weekend should I choose for the UAE?
Saturday and Sunday, the UAE federal weekend. Friday counts as a working day, even though federal offices work a half day.
How do I count days from today to a deadline?
Enter today as the start date and the deadline as the end date. Leave the end date out if you want the days remaining, or include it if the deadline day itself counts.