Public Holidays UAE 2025: Time to Plan Your Vacations

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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

Expected for Thursday, June 5, 2025, Arafat Day comes a day before Eid Al Adha. It is one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar when pilgrims congregate on the plains of Arafat to perform Hajj.

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

This day has been known as Martyrs’ Day. Commemoration Day is the day when the country pays gratitude to martyrs Emirati soldiers and civilians who have lost their lives in the service for UAE. The day is a commemorative and a national pride that organizes events and tributes across the country.

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

Apart from the 2025 public holidays UAE, you may see other long weekends and celebrations that fall well with the school calendar such as Spring Break, Summer Holidays, and Winter Break. These would not be national holidays but rather opportunities for families to program an extended vacation.

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?

Actually, Arafat Day in the UAE is a public holiday. It is on the Islamic calendar, whereby it is considered a paramount event for Hajj pilgrims.

Is Labour Day a Public holiday?

No Labour Day is not a public holiday in the UAE.

Are banks open on United Arab Emirates public holidays?

No, Banks in United Arab Emirates are usually closed at the time of public holiday unless some of them provide small services in certain branches only.

What happens if Friday happens to fall on a public holiday in the UAE?

In case Friday, which is a weekly holiday in the UAE, happens to coincide with a public holiday, the following Saturday is declared a working day. This is to make sure that the full number of working days in the week is maintained.

Hamna Farrukh