If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we could all benefit from more time away from work. A recent update to the UAE public holidays legislation brings hope for more extended breaks in the near future. Starting on January 1, 2025, public holidays in the UAE will be transferable if they fall on a weekend, allowing for more flexibility in our time off.

Many of the UAE’s official public holidays are linked to the Islamic Hijri calendar, which can result in these significant occasions falling on weekends. Consequently, residents have been missing out on additional days off. For instance, Islamic New Year, which marks the first day of Muharram, occurred on Sunday, July 7, 2024, meaning that while it was officially recognized as a holiday, many private sector workers in Dubai felt no difference since Sunday is typically a day off for most.

However, with the recent change in law, if a holiday coincides with a weekend in the future, it can be rescheduled to either the preceding or the following week. As it stands, this year, residents can expect at least 12 days off, with an extra day potentially added depending on whether Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days.

Understanding the UAE Public Holidays Law

The recent revision of the UAE public holidays law was announced last summer, clarifying the paid holiday structure throughout the country. The UAE constitution has been amended to allow for the transfer of most holidays, including New Year’s Day, Islamic New Year, the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (PBUH), and National Day, if they happen to fall on a weekend. This adjustment permits the UAE cabinet to move these public holidays to a day at the start or end of the week, which is certainly a win for workers.

However, it’s important to note that the two longest public holidays, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, will not be transferable should they coincide with a weekend. The official text of the law states, “With the exception of Eid holidays, the Cabinet may – pursuant to a resolution it issues – transfer any of the public holidays referred to in Article (1) of this Resolution to the beginning or end of the week.” In this context, Article (1) refers to all the public holiday dates outlined, along with their anticipated Gregorian calendar equivalents.

As we look ahead, there are numerous public holidays on the horizon (Credit: Adobe Express). It’s worth noting that a public holiday cannot be moved to another date if it coincides with another public holiday or falls on a weekend. This year, we shouldn’t encounter any overlaps between Islamic Hijri holiday dates and Gregorian holidays. However, in future years, we may see potential overlaps, such as Eid Al Fitr coinciding with the Gregorian New Year or National Day celebrations.

Last year’s resolution also granted each emirate the autonomy to declare additional public holidays or commemorative occasions as they see fit. Therefore, if Dubai decides to introduce an extra holiday, it has the authority to do so.

Since the beginning of 2022, the official weekend in the UAE has been Saturday and Sunday, transitioning from the previous Friday and Saturday schedule. Curious about the upcoming UAE public holidays? Stay updated by checking here.

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