UAE residents can transform their 13 official holidays into extended breaks totalling up to 45 days through strategic annual leave planning. Here’s your comprehensive guide to making the most of UAE public holidays in 2025.
January: New Year’s Extended Break
- Official holiday: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Strategic planning tip: Take January 2-3 off
- Potential break: 5 days including weekends
- Real example: Zuhara Safa, 23, marketing coordinator, successfully planned a trip to India using this strategy
April: Eid Al Fitr Holiday
- Expected dates: March 31 to April 2
- Strategic planning tip: Add April 3-4 as annual leave
- Potential break: 9 consecutive days
- Note: Exact dates subject to moon sighting
June: Double Holiday Month
Eid Al Adha Break
- Arafah Day: June 6 (Friday)
- Eid Al Adha: June 7-9
- Strategic planning tip: Take June 10-13 as annual leave
- Potential break: 10 days
Islamic New Year
- Expected date: June 27 (Friday)
- Natural long weekend: 3 days
- No additional planning needed
September: Prophet’s Birthday
- Expected date: September 5 (Friday)
- Strategic planning tip: Take September 1-4 as annual leave
- Potential break: 9 days
December: National Day Celebration
- Official holidays: December 2-3 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
- Strategic planning tip: Take December 1 and 4 as annual leave
- Potential break: 9 days including weekends
Important Considerations
Workplace Policies
Some organisations have specific policies regarding leave combinations. For example, W.L., a 43-year-old early childhood educator, notes that her nursery counts public holidays as annual leave when combined.
Flexible Planning
Talal Mansoor, 30, graphic designer, shares: “My company doesn’t count public holidays and weekends as part of annual leave, making it easier to plan extended breaks.”
Calendar Notes
- Most holidays can be moved to week beginnings or ends through UAE Cabinet decisions
- Eid holidays follow the Islamic calendar and depend on moon sighting
- The UAE Cabinet has announced these dates in advance to facilitate planning
Planning Tips
- Book your leave early
- Check your company’s leave policy
- Consider peak travel periods
- Monitor official announcements for any calendar changes
- Coordinate with colleagues to ensure coverage
