UAE announces paid public holiday for National Day

[Editor's note: The Ministry of Human Resources has now announced an update. You can find the latest story here.]

December 2 and 3 will be paid public holidays for private sector workers in the UAE to celebrate the National Day. Since the dates fall over the Saturday-Sunday weekend, they won’t translate into an extended break.

Last year, employees of both private and public sectors were granted an extra day off on December 1 to observe the Commemoration Day, previously known as Martyrs' Day. Combined with the National Day holidays, residents got a three-day break in 2022. However, this is not the case this year. Friday, December 1, this year is a working day.

Fret not, though. Residents will get to end 2023 and welcome the new year with a three-day break. January 1, 2024, falls on Monday and is a paid holiday. Combined with the Saturday-Sunday weekend, that’s three days off to start 2024.

Also called the UAE Union Day, the UAE marks the National Day on December 2 every year to celebrate the unification of the emirates in 1971. The country turns 52 this year.

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