UAE Residents Can Expect More Public Holidays Before Year-End

After enjoying a four-day break for Eid Al Adha, UAE residents can look forward to several more public holidays before the end of 2025, offering further opportunities for long weekends.

This year’s Eid Al Adha holiday, which ran from Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8, saw government and private sector employees return to work on Monday, June 9. However, the next potential public holiday is already on the horizon.

According to current astronomical calculations, the Islamic (Hijri) New Year—marking the beginning of the month of Muharram and the Islamic year 1447—is expected to fall on Thursday, June 26. If the preceding Islamic month, Dhu Al Hijja, extends to 30 days, the holiday may shift to Friday, June 27 instead.

Islamic New Year in the UAE is usually a peaceful occasion marked by reflection rather than large public celebrations or rituals. Nonetheless, it is recognised as a public holiday, giving many residents a potential one-day break or even another long weekend depending on how the dates fall.

Following the Islamic New Year, the next anticipated holiday will be the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday (Mawlid Al Nabi), which is projected to fall on Thursday, September 4. This occasion is also typically observed as a public holiday in the UAE, and could provide yet another long weekend for residents.

As the year draws to a close, the UAE’s most significant national observances return with Commemoration Day expected on Monday, December 1. This solemn occasion honours the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation.

Immediately following Commemoration Day are the National Day celebrations, which are expected to take place on Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3. National Day marks the unification of the UAE in 1971 and is widely celebrated with fireworks, parades, and cultural events across the country.

Altogether, the final months of 2025 could offer residents an extended three-day holiday period in early December, depending on official announcements.

The exact dates of Islamic holidays in the UAE are subject to moon sightings and official confirmation from relevant authorities. The UAE government typically announces public holiday dates closer to each occasion.