With the middle of 2024 upon us, most of the UAE’s long weekends are behind us. However, there’s one last guaranteed long weekend on the way, which will also usher in the end-of-year festivities. On December 2nd and 3rd, the country will celebrate its National Day, now known as Union Day, and this is set to be a two-day holiday. The UAE Cabinet has confirmed that both public and private sector employees will enjoy a two-day break falling on Monday and Tuesday, making it a four-day weekend for those who have Saturdays off.
Closer than December is the Islamic New Year, anticipated to fall on July 7th, a Sunday. However, there’s a twist. According to resolution No. 27 of 2024 from the UAE Cabinet, with the exception of Eid holidays, any official holidays can be shifted by a Cabinet decision to the beginning or end of the week. While UAE residents will have to await an official announcement from the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation for confirmation, the Union Day long weekend remains a sure thing.
Looking ahead to 2025, the government has also revealed the full list of public holidays, starting with New Year’s Day on January 1st, a Wednesday. As is customary, the official dates for all Islamic festivals will be confirmed closer to the moon sightings. But, the calendar provides enough information for tentative holiday planning.
