UAE Public Holidays 2025
The UAE has 8 public holiday periods in 2025. Eid al-Fitr runs Mar 30–Apr 1 (a 4-day break with the weekend), Arafat Day plus Eid al-Adha give 4 straight days off from Jun 5–8, and the Cabinet moved the Islamic New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and Commemoration Day to the nearest weekend edge so each becomes part of a long weekend. Only National Day (Dec 2–3) comes after a month-long stretch without a public holiday.
Public holiday periods
8
Longest break
Eid al-Adha · 4 days
Hijri-based holidays
5
Moved by Cabinet
3 (Jun 27, Sep 5, Dec 1)
2025 United Arab Emirates calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
United Arab Emirates public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | Wednesday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| Mar 30 – Apr 1 | Sunday – | Eid al-FitrThree official days (Shawwal 1–3). The Shawwal crescent was sighted on the evening of Mar 29, so Eid begins Sunday Mar 30 after a 29-day Ramadan; together with the Saturday it makes a 4-day break. Work resumes Wednesday Apr 2.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 5, 2025 | Thursday | Arafat DayDhu al-Hijjah 9. The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced a 4-day break for Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha from Jun 5 to Jun 8, with work resuming Monday Jun 9.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| Jun 6 – 8 | Friday – | Eid al-AdhaDhu al-Hijjah 10–12. The first day of Eid al-Adha is Friday Jun 6; the official break covers Jun 5–8 including the weekend, the longest continuous public holiday period of 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 27, 2025 | Friday | Islamic New Year (Al Hijri)Muharram 1, 1447 AH falls on Thursday Jun 26. The Cabinet moved the public holiday to Friday Jun 27 so it joins the weekend for a 2-day break — the first of three Cabinet adjustments in 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| September 5, 2025 | Friday | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)Rabi al-Awwal 12, 1447 AH falls on Thursday Sep 4. The Cabinet moved the public holiday to Friday Sep 5, creating a 2-day weekend break — the second Cabinet adjustment of 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 1, 2025 | Monday | Commemoration DayCommemoration Day itself is Nov 30, but in 2025 that falls on a Sunday, so the Cabinet moved the holiday to Monday Dec 1 — the third Cabinet adjustment of 2025.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| Dec 2 – 3 | Tuesday – | UAE National DayDec 2–3 is a fixed Gregorian holiday celebrating the union of the Emirates in 1971. Combined with the moved Commemoration Day, workers get a 3-day break from Monday Dec 1 to Wednesday Dec 3.Public holiday | Public holiday |
United Arab Emirates long weekends in 2025
Eid al-Fitr break
4 daysMar 29 – Apr 1
Eid falls on Sunday Mar 30, so the Saturday before joins the three official days (Mar 30–Apr 1) for a four-day break.
Eid al-Adha break
4 daysJun 5 – 8
Arafat Day (Thu Jun 5) plus Eid al-Adha (Fri–Sun Jun 6–8) make the longest continuous public holiday period of 2025, per the MoHRE announcement.
Islamic New Year (Al Hijri)
3 daysJun 27 – 29
Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Mawlid)
3 daysSep 5 – 7
National Day break
3 daysDec 1 – 3
Commemoration Day moved to Monday Dec 1, followed by National Day on Dec 2–3 — a three-day break with no extra leave needed.
The UAE's weekend transfer rule: how the Cabinet builds long weekends
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, most UAE public holidays — everything except the three Eid al-Fitr days — may be moved by the Cabinet to the start or end of the week. A holiday that falls on a Friday or Saturday is not automatically compensated: the UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday, so the Cabinet instead shifts such holidays to the nearest Monday or Friday.
2025 shows the rule in action three times: the Islamic New Year moved from Thu Jun 26 to Fri Jun 27, the Prophet's Birthday from Thu Sep 4 to Fri Sep 5, and Commemoration Day from Sun Nov 30 to Mon Dec 1 — each creating a long weekend without touching the Eid al-Fitr guarantee.
How Islamic holiday dates are set: moon sighting and the Hijri calendar
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar, so each year they move roughly 10–11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar. The exact date depends on the sighting of the crescent moon: in the UAE, the Moon-Sighting Committee (formed by the UAE Council for Fatwa) meets on the 29th day of the month, and the Presidential Court then issues the official statement.
Ramadan adds one more twist: when the holy month runs 30 days, the 30th day itself becomes an extra holiday before Eid al-Fitr. In 2025 Ramadan lasted 29 days, so Eid began directly on Sunday Mar 30 — residents got a 4-day break (Sat Mar 29 to Tue Apr 1) without the extra day.
The Eid holiday structure: how the two big Eids line up
Eid al-Fitr is always 3 official days (Shawwal 1–3) and cannot be moved by the Cabinet. Eid al-Adha follows Arafat Day (Dhu al-Hijjah 9, a one-day holiday), so the two typically merge into a 4-day break — in 2025, Thursday Jun 5 through Sunday Jun 8.
The third long break comes at the end of the year: Commemoration Day (moved to Mon Dec 1) plus National Day (Tue–Wed Dec 2–3) gives a three-day run. With the Cabinet transfer rule in mind, planning travel around the June and December windows in advance is usually rewarded.
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Official sources & data
- Eid Al Fitr 2025: Key dates, holidays, free parking, prayer times, and how the UAE will celebrateVisit sourceGulf News
- 阿联酋：宣布私营部门2025年宰牲节假期（MoHRE 官方公告转载）Visit sourceGlobalcare Info (via Baidu Baijiahao)
- Eid Al Adha 2025: Will UAE residents get an extra day off for the weekend overlap?Visit sourceTimes of India
- UAE Public Holidays Explained: Plan the rest of your 2025 and 2026Visit sourceAD Middle East
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does the UAE have in 2025?+
Eight public holiday periods: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Eid al-Fitr (Mar 30–Apr 1), Arafat Day (Jun 5), Eid al-Adha (Jun 6–8), Islamic New Year (Jun 27), the Prophet's Birthday (Sep 5), Commemoration Day (Dec 1) and National Day (Dec 2–3). Counted as calendar days off, the Eid breaks extend the total to roughly 11–12 days.
When is Eid al-Fitr 2025 in the UAE?+
Eid al-Fitr begins Sunday March 30, 2025 (the crescent was sighted on the evening of Mar 29 after a 29-day Ramadan). The official holiday runs Mar 30–Apr 1, and with the Saturday before it residents get a 4-day break; work resumes Wednesday Apr 2.
When is Eid al-Adha 2025 in the UAE?+
Arafat Day is Thursday June 5 and Eid al-Adha runs Friday June 6 to Sunday June 8, 2025. The MoHRE announced a combined 4-day holiday (Jun 5–8) for both public and private sectors, with work resuming Monday June 9.
What happens when a UAE public holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday?+
There is no automatic substitute day. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the Cabinet may move most holidays (all except the 3 Eid al-Fitr days) to the start or end of the week. In 2025 it moved the Islamic New Year, the Prophet's Birthday and Commemoration Day to the nearest Friday or Monday, turning each into a long weekend.
Is Commemoration Day a public holiday in the UAE?+
Yes. Commemoration Day honours the nation's fallen heroes and is marked every year on Nov 30. In 2025 it falls on a Sunday, so the Cabinet moved the holiday to Monday Dec 1 — which conveniently joins National Day (Dec 2–3) for a 3-day break.
Is the UAE weekend Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday?+
Saturday–Sunday. The UAE moved to a Saturday–Sunday weekend in 2006, aligning with global markets. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, still uses Friday–Saturday.
