Here's a comprehensive list of holidays and expected long weekends for 2025, based on a Cabinet resolution.
In 2025, UAE residents will enjoy up to 13 days of public holidays. A new resolution from the UAE Cabinet indicates that the schedule for the Islamic festival Eid Al Fitr 2025 will differ slightly from previous years. This is the most significant change in the public holiday calendar compared to recent years.
Effective January 1, 2025, this resolution applies to both private and public sector employees in the UAE. These public holidays are in addition to the 30 annual leave days employees can take each year.
This unique blend of annual leave and public holidays allows residents to enjoy up to three vacations annually.
Most of the holiday dates follow the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is based on lunar sightings. The corresponding Gregorian calendar dates will be announced closer to the respective occasions.
Here is the full list according to the resolution:
Happy New Year 2025 Holiday UAE: 1 Day Off
UAE residents will begin the new year with a public holiday on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Eid Al Fitr 2025 Holiday UAE: Up to 4 Days Off in March-April 2025
Eid Al Fitr, the Islamic holiday following Ramadan, will grant residents up to four days off. The 2025 schedule is slightly different, with the resolution specifying the first three days of Shawwal—the month after Ramadan—as holidays. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, the 30th day will also be a holiday, giving residents four days off (Ramadan 30 to Shawwal 3). If Ramadan lasts 29 days, the holiday will cover the first three days of Eid (Shawwal 1 to 3).
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha Bakra Eid Holiday 2025: 4 Days Off in June 2025
Arafah Day, the holiest day in Islam, will be observed on Dhul Hijjah 9, followed by a three-day break for Eid Al Adha (Dhul Hijjah 10-12), totaling four days off.
Hijri New Year 2025 | Islamic New Year 2025: 1 Day Off in June 2025
Residents will have a day off on Muharram 1, occurring a few weeks after the Eid Al Adha break.
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday 2025: 1 Day Off in September 2025
A holiday will be observed on Rabi Al Awwal 12 to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
UAE National Day 2025 Holiday: 2 Days Off in December 2025
Residents will enjoy two days off to celebrate National Day on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and Wednesday, December 3, 2025, marking the last public holidays of the year.
As per the resolution, all holidays except Eid can be shifted to the beginning or end of the week by a UAE Cabinet decision. If an official holiday falls on a weekend, it cannot be moved to a weekday. Additionally, local governments in each Emirate may announce extra holidays as needed.
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