When is the next holiday? Another Deadline? Life is a never-ending cycle of work, especially when you belong to an HR- clan of one massive business hub, i.e. UAE. Being in HR means assuring you have to work without a hitch. But at times, these unforeseen public holidays keep halting your plans.
In 2025, UAE observes eight public holidays, including Eid-Al-Fitr, Arafaat Day, Eid-Al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet’s Birthday, Commemoration Day, UAE National Day, and New Year’s Eve. These holidays offer opportunities for celebration, reflection, and time off throughout the year.
What are Public Holidays in UAE?
Public holidays in the UAE are the specific dates throughout the year when government offices, businesses, and institutions are officially closed. These are paid-off holidays where friends and families come together to celebrate and strengthen the country’s identity. These holidays allow UAE’s population to observe cultural, religious, or national events. Moreover, these holidays play a crucial role in the work-life balance and foster unity, social harmony, and a sense of belonging.
Below, we’ve mentioned a calendar of public holidays in UAE in 2025 with precise dates to help you plan your leaves and schedule your work routine accordingly.
8 Public Holidays in the UAE in 2025
During UAE public holidays, most companies and government offices are closed. You will, therefore, need to be skilled at organizing holiday time and work schedules to comply with these public holidays.
| Date | Day | No. Of Days | Holiday |
| 1 January 30 March |
Monday Sunday |
1 4 |
New Year’s Day Eid-Al-Fitr |
| 5 June | Thursday | 1 | Arafat Day |
| 6 June | Friday | 3 | Eid-Al-Adha |
| 27 June | Friday | 1 | Islamic New Year |
| 5 September | Friday | 1 | Prophet’s Birthday |
| 2 December | Tuesday | 2 |
UAE National Day |
History & Background of UAE Public Holidays
1. New Year’s Day – 1 January, 2025
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve is the evening or whole day of December 31, the year’s final day. In the UAE, New Year’s Eve is a spectacular event. From the breathtaking Burj Khalifa fireworks through the whole night countdown, it sends a message of celebration and peace to the world.
Luckily, it will occur on the week’s final day, a Sunday this year. Therefore, we can enjoy a public holiday on Monday, January 1, 2025.
2. Eid-Al-Fitr Holiday (30 march -3 April 2025)
Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated after the auspicious month of Ramadan on the 1st date of Shawwal. According to the Islamic calendar, Shawwal is the 10th month of the year. In the coming year, the Eid holiday will be predicted to last 5 days. According to astronomers, Ramadan will start in the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025. If this prediction is true, Eid-Al-Fitr will be on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
As you know, Eid-Al-Fitr holidays are granted from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3. So, if March 30 is the day of Eid, the holidays will be granted from 30 march -3 April. This means it will be five days off.
But again, it depends upon the duration of Ramadan and the appearance of the Shawwal moon. The dates may collide, but the 99% chance is that these days will be seen as Eid.
3. Arafat Day – 5, June, 2025
The main focus of Arafaat Day is observation and prayer. A crucial component of the Hajj, the journey to Mecca, is it. It is among the most important occasions in Islamic history.
Considering it is a public holiday, you are free to spend it in peace and prayers. According to astronomical calculations, “Arafat Day will fall on Thursday, June 5. So, the following day, Friday, will be the first day of Eid-Al-Adha.”
4. Eid-al-Adha – 6-8, June, 2025
Eid-Al-Adha, commonly referred to as the Eid of Sacrifice, is a time to ponder Ibrahim’s determination to offer his son as a sacrifice. Families gather to sacrifice for animals and provide meat to needy people. Of the two major festivals observed in Islam, it is the second and biggest.
The UAE Moon Sighting Committee hopes to observe the Dhu Al-Hijja on Friday, June 6. The very first day of Eid-Al-Adha in 2025.
The official holiday begins Tuesday, June 5, one day before Eid on Arafat Day. Therefore, the holidays will extend till June 8. So, there will be 4 public holidays on this occasion.
5. Islamic New Year 1st of Muharram 26, june, 2025
The Islamic New Year, or Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. While it might not involve fireworks or parties, it’s a significant holiday, and you’ll have a day off for the occasion. This first day of the Islamic year is observed on the first day of the month of Muharram.
Thursday 26 June 2025, will be an official public holiday for all private and public sectors in the UAE on the day of the Islamic New Year and it may change based on Hijri Calender
6. Prophet Birthday 12 Rabiulawal – 5, September, 2025
Mawlid al-Nabi, commonly known as The Prophet’s Birthday, is a day set aside to honor the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The birthday of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a public holiday in Dubai. According to the UAE Government, it will be observed on Friday, September 5, 2025.
7. UAE National Day – 2 & 3, December, 2025
Every year on December 2, the UAE celebrates its National Day. As UAE was the last state to enter a federation, the seventh emirate joined on 10 February 1972. It is a day of pride and unity that celebrates the union of the Emirates and the birth of the nation. Holidays can be transferred to the first or the end of week based on government announcment.
You can expect grand parades, fireworks, and a sea of red, green, white, and black flags. It is also considered a public holiday filled with patriotism, peace, and pride.
When is the next holiday? Another Deadline? Life is a never-ending cycle of work, especially when you belong to an HR- clan of one massive business hub, i.e. UAE. Being in HR means assuring you have to work without a hitch. But at times, these unforeseen public holidays keep halting your plans.
In 2025, UAE observes eight public holidays, including Eid-Al-Fitr, Arafaat Day, Eid-Al-Adha, Islamic New Year, Prophet’s Birthday, Commemoration Day, UAE National Day, and New Year’s Eve. These holidays offer opportunities for celebration, reflection, and time off throughout the year.
What are Public Holidays in UAE?
Public holidays in the UAE are the specific dates throughout the year when government offices, businesses, and institutions are officially closed. These are paid-off holidays where friends and families come together to celebrate and strengthen the country’s identity. These holidays allow UAE’s population to observe cultural, religious, or national events. Moreover, these holidays play a crucial role in the work-life balance and foster unity, social harmony, and a sense of belonging.
Below, we’ve mentioned a calendar of public holidays in UAE in 2025 with precise dates to help you plan your leaves and schedule your work routine accordingly.
8 Public Holidays in the UAE in 2025
During UAE public holidays, most companies and government offices are closed. You will, therefore, need to be skilled at organizing holiday time and work schedules to comply with these public holidays.
| Date | Day | No. Of Days | Holiday |
| 1 January 30 March |
Monday Sunday |
1 4 |
New Year’s Day Eid-Al-Fitr |
| 5 June | Thursday | 1 | Arafat Day |
| 6 June | Friday | 3 | Eid-Al-Adha |
| 27 June | Friday | 1 | Islamic New Year |
| 5 September | Friday | 1 | Prophet’s Birthday |
| 2 December | Tuesday | 2 |
UAE National Day |
History & Background of UAE Public Holidays
1. New Year’s Day – 1 January, 2025
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve is the evening or whole day of December 31, the year’s final day. In the UAE, New Year’s Eve is a spectacular event. From the breathtaking Burj Khalifa fireworks through the whole night countdown, it sends a message of celebration and peace to the world.
Luckily, it will occur on the week’s final day, a Sunday this year. Therefore, we can enjoy a public holiday on Monday, January 1, 2025.
2. Eid-Al-Fitr Holiday (30 march -3 April 2025)
Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated after the auspicious month of Ramadan on the 1st date of Shawwal. According to the Islamic calendar, Shawwal is the 10th month of the year. In the coming year, the Eid holiday will be predicted to last 5 days. According to astronomers, Ramadan will start in the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025. If this prediction is true, Eid-Al-Fitr will be on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
As you know, Eid-Al-Fitr holidays are granted from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3. So, if March 30 is the day of Eid, the holidays will be granted from 30 march -3 April. This means it will be five days off.
But again, it depends upon the duration of Ramadan and the appearance of the Shawwal moon. The dates may collide, but the 99% chance is that these days will be seen as Eid.
3. Arafat Day – 5, June, 2025
The main focus of Arafaat Day is observation and prayer. A crucial component of the Hajj, the journey to Mecca, is it. It is among the most important occasions in Islamic history.
Considering it is a public holiday, you are free to spend it in peace and prayers. According to astronomical calculations, “Arafat Day will fall on Thursday, June 5. So, the following day, Friday, will be the first day of Eid-Al-Adha.”
4. Eid-al-Adha – 6-8, June, 2025
Eid-Al-Adha, commonly referred to as the Eid of Sacrifice, is a time to ponder Ibrahim’s determination to offer his son as a sacrifice. Families gather to sacrifice for animals and provide meat to needy people. Of the two major festivals observed in Islam, it is the second and biggest.
The UAE Moon Sighting Committee hopes to observe the Dhu Al-Hijja on Friday, June 6. The very first day of Eid-Al-Adha in 2025.
The official holiday begins Tuesday, June 5, one day before Eid on Arafat Day. Therefore, the holidays will extend till June 8. So, there will be 4 public holidays on this occasion.
5. Islamic New Year 1st of Muharram 26, june, 2025
The Islamic New Year, or Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. While it might not involve fireworks or parties, it’s a significant holiday, and you’ll have a day off for the occasion. This first day of the Islamic year is observed on the first day of the month of Muharram.
Thursday 26 June 2025, will be an official public holiday for all private and public sectors in the UAE on the day of the Islamic New Year and it may change based on Hijri Calender
6. Prophet Birthday 12 Rabiulawal – 5, September, 2025
Mawlid al-Nabi, commonly known as The Prophet’s Birthday, is a day set aside to honor the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The birthday of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is a public holiday in Dubai. According to the UAE Government, it will be observed on Friday, September 5, 2025.
7. UAE National Day – 2 & 3, December, 2025
Every year on December 2, the UAE celebrates its National Day. As UAE was the last state to enter a federation, the seventh emirate joined on 10 February 1972. It is a day of pride and unity that celebrates the union of the Emirates and the birth of the nation. Holidays can be transferred to the first or the end of week based on government announcment.
You can expect grand parades, fireworks, and a sea of red, green, white, and black flags. It is also considered a public holiday filled with patriotism, peace, and pride.
Farhan
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