Remember that amazing nine-day break we had back in April for Eid Al Fitr in Dubai? Well, the good news is that there are still plenty more UAE public holidays in 2024 to look forward to.
In early 2024, the UAE Cabinet confirmed that there would be a total of 14 public holidays for the public and private sectors in the UAE.
While some of the exact dates are yet to be announced – as these will depend as usual on the moon sightings around the next holiday for Eid Al Adha – we do know that there will be 14 days’ worth of holidays in total.
We’ve also calculated how to make the most of the holidays by planning long weekends for even more time off. You can see all the long weekends for 2024 here.
With eight different public holidays in 2024 and six of these still to come, it’s never too early to plan ahead so you can make the most of your time off.
UAE public holidays in 2024: Confirmed holidays
- Monday January 1: New Year’s Day
- Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3: Eid Al-Fitr
- Dhu Al Hijjah 9: Arafat Day
- Dhu Al Hijjah 10 to 12: Eid Al-Adha
- Muharram 1: Islamic New Year
- Rabi’ Al-Awwal 12: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
- Monday December 2: National Day
- Tuesday December 3: National Day holiday
#UAE_Cabinet approves official holidays calendar for government and private sectors for year 2024 pic.twitter.com/HHtIQawNy8
— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) November 21, 2023
It’s important to note that despite the holidays being officially confirmed, the exact dates of some are yet to be announced. That’s because many of the UAE’s public holidays are decided according to specific moon sightings.
While you can’t foresee the actual dates quite yet, you can get diary planning with our predicted guide below.
UAE public holidays in 2024: Predicted dates
- Monday January 1: New Year’s Day (confirmed)
- Monday April 8: Eid Al Fitr holiday (confirmed)
- Tuesday April 9: Eid Al Fitr holiday (confirmed)
- Wednesday April 10: First day of Eid Al Fitr (confirmed)
- Thursday April 11: Eid Al Fitr holiday (confirmed)
- Friday April 12: Eid Al Fitr holiday (confirmed)
- Sunday June 16: Arafat Day
- Monday June 17: Eid al Adha holiday
- Tuesday June 18: Eid al Adha holiday
- Wednesday June 19: Eid Al Adha holiday
- Sunday July 7: Islamic New Year
- Sunday September 15: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
- Monday December 2: National Day
- Tuesday December 3: National Day holiday
UAE public holidays in 2024: Eid Al Fitr
After New Year’s Day, the first key UAE public holiday is Eid Al Fitr, which immediately follows Ramadan.
Ramadan in Dubai in 2024 began on Monday March 11 and ended on Tuesday April 9.
UAE residents in both the public and private sectors received a paid public holiday from Ramadan 29 until Shawwal 3, which was Monday April 8 through to Friday April 12.
Adding the two weekends on either side, and we all enjoyed a rather wonderful nine-day holiday.
UAE public holidays in 2024: Eid Al Adha
You might remember that Eid Al Adha in 2023 was commemorated with a six-day weekend.
Well, it doesn’t look like that will be the case this time around – but UAE workers can still look forward to five consecutive days off for the occasion in 2024 based on the most recent predictions in April.
That’s because astronomers predict Arafat Day 2024 – which is the second day of the week-long Hajj pilgrimage – will fall on Sunday June 16.
If this comes to pass, Eid Al Adha will start on Monday June 17 and the two subsequent holiday days that mark the occasion will fall on Tuesday June 18 and Wednesday June 19.
If you include the weekend, there’s a five-day holiday to plan. Winning.
Plus, if you’re willing to use just a couple of days of annual leave (and get in there quick with the request before your colleagues) that’s another nine-day holiday for just two days’ annual leave.
UAE public holidays in 2024: Islamic New Year
Islamic New Year is expected to fall on Sunday July 7.
Whether a public holiday on a working day will follow remains to be seen.
UAE public holidays in 2024: Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
The Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday is expected to fall on Sunday September 15.
Whether a public holiday on a working day will follow remains to be seen.
UAE public holidays in 2024: National Day
National Day celebrations fall in December every year, and 2024 will be no different.
Commemoration Day is expected to fall on Sunday December 1, meaning you can expect a public holiday on Monday December 2 and Tuesday December 3.
Roll on another four-day weekend.
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