Who doesn’t love Holidays? Public Holidays UAE 2025 will provide opportunities for long weekends not only to government workers but also to those in the private sectors. Most of these holidays fall during Islamic holidays, which are apt to change their dates because they rely on the sighting of the moon. Here is a rundown of all public holidays in UAE 2025.
Islamic Holidays
New Year’s Day
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
This will be the first of UAE public holidays 2025, celebrating the Gregorian New Year, this celebratory holiday is observed throughout the country by both government and private sectors.
- Eid Al Fitr
It is expected to fall between Monday, 31st March, 2025 and Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025. Eid Al Fitr is the holiday marking the end of the Islamic month of fasting called Ramadan. The duration of the celebration is three to four days, which depend on moon sighting. During this period, public offices and businesses are closed.
- Arafat Day
- Eid Al Adha
Eid Al Adha, alternatively called the Festival of Sacrifice, takes place between Friday, June 6, and Sunday, June 8, 2025. This is one of the major Islamic festivals, where all the country unites in unison through three days and nights of praying, feasting, and having fun together.
- Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year)
The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, commences the Islamic lunar calendar on Thursday, 26 June 2025. Even though the festivities are minimal, it is still a public holiday in the UAE.
- Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday
Expected to be held on Monday, September 1st, 2025, the holiday known as Mawlid Al Nabi celebrates the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by characterized prayers, recitations and religious gatherings.
National Holidays
Commemoration Day
Monday, December 1, 2025
UAE National Day
Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Commemorated with fervor, UAE National Day is the day in 1971 when the seven emirates came together. The two-day holiday includes a number of parades and fireworks, besides other celebrations in all the seven emirates, which makes it the most important holiday in the UAE calendar.
Additional Long Weekends and Non-Government Observances
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is Christmas a public holiday in the UAE?
No, Christmas is not a public holiday in the UAE. Since the UAE is mostly a Muslim country, the public holidays are mainly based on the Islamic calendar.
- How many public holidays are there in the UAE?
The number of public holidays in the UAE can vary from year to year, but generally it is between 12 and 14. Some of these include Islamic holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Islamic New Year, while national holidays include National Day and Commemoration Day.
- Is Arafat Day a public holiday in the UAE?
- Is Labour Day a Public holiday?
- Are banks open on United Arab Emirates public holidays?
- What happens if Friday happens to fall on a public holiday in the UAE?
