Planning your next break? Here’s the list of UAE public holidays in 2025

Dreaming of your next holiday? So are we. With the year just starting, it’s the perfect time to begin planning your getaways, and knowing the public holidays in the UAE for 2025 can help you make the most of your time off.

The UAE government has already announced the official public holidays for the year, ensuring that you can plan for both work and leisure.

In 2025, the UAE will enjoy at least 12 public holidays, including the special occasions of Eid, Islamic New Year, and UAE National Day. This could mean a bonus day off if Ramadan spans 30 days, as we experienced in 2024.

These dates are based on the UAE’s official gazette announcement and are confirmed in line with new resolutions that came into effect on January 1.

What’s new with public holidays?

A key change in the way public holidays are declared in the UAE comes with a new resolution under the UAE Cabinet Resolution No 27 of 2024.

According to this update, if a holiday falls on a weekend, it “may be carried over by a Cabinet decision to the beginning or end of the week”.

While this does not apply to Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, this could lead to some additional time off if certain public holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday.

For example, if the resolution had been in effect for the Islamic New Year 2024, we might have enjoyed an extra day off on Friday or Monday.

The law impacts both the public and private sectors across the UAE, ensuring that these holidays are enjoyed by everyone.

Official UAE public holidays in 2025

Here’s a breakdown of the anticipated public holidays in the UAE for 2025, including Islamic Calendar dates: Gregorian Date Islamic Date Day Occasion January 1, 2025 11 Jumada al-Awwal 1446 Wednesday New Year’s Day March 31, 2025 1 Shawwal 1446 Monday Eid Al Fitr (Day 1) April 1, 2025 2 Shawwal 1446 Tuesday Eid Al Fitr (Day 2) April 2, 2025 3 Shawwal 1446 Wednesday Eid Al Fitr (Day 3) May 30, 2025 9 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 Thursday Arafat Day May 31, 2025 10 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 Friday Eid Al Adha (Day 1) June 1, 2025 11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 Saturday Eid Al Adha (Day 2) June 2, 2025 12 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 Sunday Eid Al Adha (Day 3) June 27, 2025 1 Muharram 1447 Thursday Islamic New Year September 1, 2025 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1447 Monday Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) December 1, 2025 17 Rabi al-Awwal 1447 Monday Commemoration Day December 2, 2025 18 Rabi al-Awwal 1447 Tuesday UAE National Day December 3, 2025 19 Rabi al-Awwal 1447 Wednesday UAE National Day

Read: How to turn 18 days’ leave into 51 days off in the UAE in 2025