UAE Public Holidays 2025: A Comprehensive guide
Table of Contents
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) observes a mix of national, religious, and international holidays, offering residents and visitors several days of respite throughout the year. Understanding these holidays is crucial for planning travel, business, and personal commitments. This guide provides a detailed overview of the confirmed and anticipated public holidays for the UAE in 2025, along wiht information on how these holidays are determined.
Confirmed Public Holidays for 2025
Here’s a breakdown of the public holidays announced for 2025 as of November 20,2024:
New Year’s Day – January 1 (Wednesday)
Eid al-Fitr – Dates depend on moon sightings,expected around April 9-12 (Wednesday-Saturday) https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
Eid al-Adha – Dates depend on moon sightings, expected around June 16-20 (Monday-Friday) https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
islamic New Year – July 7 (Monday) https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – November 15 (Saturday) https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
National day – December 2-3 (Tuesday-Wednesday) https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
How UAE Public Holidays are Determined
The UAE government has specific regulations regarding public holidays.
According to Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, the UAE Cabinet has the authority to adjust the dates of public holidays (excluding Eid holidays) to the beginning or end of the workweek. This allows for longer weekend breaks. https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303213999
Local governments can also declare additional holidays for specific events or administrative reasons.
here’s a summary of the key principles:
Gregorian Calendar Holidays: Holidays like New Year’s Day and National Day have fixed dates.
Islamic Holidays: Dates for Islamic holidays (Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New year, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) are determined by the Hijri calendar and are subject to official moon sightings. This means the exact dates can vary each year.
Potential for Holiday Adjustments
It’s important to note that the UAE Cabinet can move public holidays to create longer weekends. for example, a holiday falling mid-week might be extended to include the preceding or following weekend. Official announcements regarding any adjustments will be made by the UAE government.
Key Takeaways
The UAE observes both Gregorian and Islamic holidays.
Islamic holiday dates are subject to change based on moon sightings.
The UAE Cabinet can adjust holiday dates to create longer weekends.
Local governments may declare additional holidays.
Always refer to official government sources for the most up-to-date information.
Resources
UAE Government Holidays: https://www.uae.gov.ae/en/information-and-services/holidays
* WAM (Emirates News Agency): https://www.wam.ae/en
This guide will be updated as more information becomes available regarding public holidays in the UAE for 2025. it is recommended to check official sources closer to the dates of islamic holidays for confirmation.