Looks like we’re in for a bunch of epic long weekends ahead…
UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, published in the Official Gazette (the official publication for laws and decrees from the UAE Government), outlines the government’s plans for both public and private holidays in 2025.
What are the UAE public holidays for 2025?
The confirmed UAE public and private sector holidays for 2025 will include:
- January 1 (Wednesday): A one-day holiday to mark the Gregorian New Year, continuing the tradition of recent years.
- Eid Al Fitr: A three-day holiday from Shawwal 1-3 (subject to moon sighting), with the possibility of an extra day if Ramadan lasts 30 days.
- Arafat Day: A one-day holiday on Dhu Al Hijjah 9, followed by three more days for Eid Al Adha (Dhu Al Hijjah 10–12).
- Islamic New Year: One day off for Muharram 1 (the Gregorian date will be confirmed).
- Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) Birthday: A holiday on Rabi Al Awwal 12, with the Gregorian date to be confirmed.
- December 2 & 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday): Time off to commemorate Commemoration Day and celebrate the 54th UAE Union Day (formerly known as National Day).
What are the likely dates in the Gregorian Calendar?
If you’re looking to get a jump on booking your leave, you’ll need to match up the Gregorian calendar dates with the corresponding Hijri (Islamic) calendar dates mentioned in the holiday provisions above. The Gregorian calendar follows the traditional 12-month system (January, February, etc.), while the Hijri calendar is based on the lunar cycle. Knowing both will help you plan your time off effectively.
Since the Islamic Calendar is based on lunar cycles – rather than the solar year of 365.25 days in the Gregorian calendar – the two calendars are not in sync. As a result, Islamic dates shift slightly earlier each year relative to the Gregorian calendar. For example, Eid al-Fitr started on April 21 in 2023, and in 2024, it will begin on April 10. This shifting pattern means the exact dates of Islamic holidays change year to year.
There’s also the matter of a final “by the eye” confirmation of the lunar phase before certain Islamic holidays can officially begin. The Moon Sighting Committee must physically observe the moon’s shape to confirm the start of the holiday. While we can provide reliable predictions, we can’t fully guarantee the exact Gregorian dates for Islamic holidays due to the moon sighting process.
Taking all of that into account, here are the likely Gregorian calendar dates for UAE public and private holidays in 2025:
- Gregorian New Year’s Day: Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – this will be a confirmed holiday.
According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society, “The crescent moon of Ramadan 1446 AH will be born on Friday, February 28, 2025.” This means that, astronomically, Ramadan 2025 in the UAE will likely begin on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 states that, “in the event the month of Ramadan completes 30 days, the 30th day of Ramadan will be considered an official holiday, added to the Eid Al Fitr celebrations.”
So, what about Eid dates in 2025? According to an article in The National, which includes direct correspondence with Al Jarwan, Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall between Monday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 2.
The article also suggests that Arafat Day will likely occur on Friday, May 30, meaning Eid Al Adha will be celebrated from Saturday, May 31, to Wednesday, June 2.
As for other key holidays, Islamic New Year is projected to be on Friday, June 27, and Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) Birthday will likely fall on Monday, September 1.
There will also be holidays for Commemoration Day and UAE Union Day (formerly National Day):
In 2025, we can look forward to two days off for the UAE Union Day celebrations, falling on Tuesday, December 2 to Wednesday, December 3.
What if those holidays fall on a weekend?
The second part of Resolution No. 27 of 2024 states that, “with the exception of Eid holidays, any of the official holidays mentioned in Article No. 1 may be carried over by a Cabinet decision to the beginning or end of the week.” This means that some holidays could be adjusted to create longer weekends, depending on government decisions.
The resolution also includes a provision stating that, “local governments may approve any other official holidays not mentioned in this resolution for their government departments and institutions on special occasions or for any other reason.” This allows local authorities the flexibility to declare additional holidays as needed for specific events or circumstances.
