UAE confirms January 1 as public holiday for New Year

The UAE has confirmed that January 1, 2021 will be a public holiday in the country.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday announced that all public and private sector employees will get a day off to mark the New Year.

However, with January 1 falling on a Friday, most workers will not get an additional day off.

HE Nasser Bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that Friday, January 1, 2021, will be a paid holiday for all private-sector establishments, on the occasion of New Year, as per the decision of the UAE Cabinet on official holidays for 2021. pic.twitter.com/nKK730khjs

— MOHRE_UAE وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) December 29, 2020

The UAE recently released a full list of public holidays for public and private sectors in 2021.

Holidays for 2021:

January 1: New Year’s Day

Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3: Eid Al Fitr [Likely to fall from May 11-15]

Zul Hijjah 9: Arafat Day [Likely to fall on July 19]

Zul Hijjah 10-12: Eid Al Adha [Likely to fall from July 20-22]

August 12: Islamic New Year

October 21: Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

December 1: Commemoration Day

December 2-3: National Day

Read: UAE announces list of public holidays for 2021 and 2022