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UAE public holidays for 2025: Shorter break for Eid Al Fitr likely next year

Here's the full list of holidays and expected long weekends according to a Cabinet resolution

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Photo: KT file
by

Sahim Salim

Published: Wed 29 May 2024, 2:14 PM

Last updated: Sat 7 Sep 2024, 3:28 PM

UAE residents will enjoy up to 13 days off as public holidays in 2025. According to a resolution the UAE Cabinet has issued, the holiday to mark Islamic festival Eid Al Fitr will be slightly different next year. This marks the most notable change in public holidays as compared to recent years.

The resolution — a copy of which Khaleej Times has seen — is effective from January 1, 2025.

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Applicable to employees of both private and public sectors in the UAE, these holidays are in addition to the 30 annual leaves employees can take in a year.

Thanks to this unique combination of annual leaves and public holidays, residents get to take up to three vacations in a year.

Most of the holiday dates are as per the Islamic Hijri calendar, the months of which are based on when the Moon is sighted. 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: 1 day off

UAE residents will begin the new year with a public holiday. Wednesday, January 1, 2025, will be a day off for residents.

Eid Al Fitr: Up to 4 days off in March-April

Islamic holiday Eid Al Fitr that falls after the month of Ramadan will see residents get up to four days off. The holiday is slightly different this year. The resolution specifies the first three days of Shawwal — the month that follows Ramadan — as holidays. If Ramadan lasts 30 days, the 30th of the Islamic month will be a holiday as well, giving residents four days off (Ramadan 30 to Shawwal 3). If the holy month lasts 29 days, the holiday is only the first three days of Eid (Shawwal 1 to 3).

In 2024, the Eid Al Fitr holiday was from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3. Including the weekends, this translated into a nine-day break for residents this year.

Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha: 4 days off in June

Considered the holiest day in Islam, Arafah Day will be a holiday. This will be on Dhul Hijjah 9. This will be followed by a three-day break for Islamic festival Eid Al Adha (Dhul Hijjah 10-12). This translates into four off days.

Hijri New Year: 1 day off in June

Muharram 1 will be a day off for residents. This falls a couple of weeks after the Eid Al Adha break.

Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday: 1 day off in September

Believed to be on Rabi Al Awwal 12, residents will get a holiday for the occasion.

UAE National Day: 2 days off in December

Residents will get two days off in the middle of a working week to celebrate the National Day. Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3, will be the last public holiday of 2025.

Can holidays be moved?

According to the resolution, except for the Eid holidays, all others can be moved to the beginning or end of the week. This can be done only through a UAE Cabinet decision.

If an official holiday falls on the weekend, it cannot be moved to a weekday. The local government in each Emirate may announce additional holidays as deemed necessary.

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Sahim Salim

Published: Wed 29 May 2024, 2:14 PM

Last updated: Sat 7 Sep 2024, 3:28 PM

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