With the new year in place and the work regime activity well and truly back in full swing, many UAE residents have already begun looking ahead to the next chance for a long-overdue break. Whether your heart desires a weekend break, staycation, or simply some extra rest time, having the UAE public holidays dates for 2025 at hand can help with forward planning and even stretch out your vacations.
According to official statements, public holiday news and recent predictions, the UAE will have at least 12 public holidays in 2025, with some of them being near weekends, so, potentially giving longer holidays. Because of a new Cabinet decree, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, it can now be shifted to a weekday freeing private and public sector employees more and more days.
If you want to know when to take annual leave or organize that holiday you've been planning, here's everything you need to know about the UAE public holidays in 2025.
Confirmed and Anticipated UAE Holidays 2025
Below is the list of known and expected UAE public holidays 2025, including religious holidays based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Remember that Islamic holiday dates will more than likely be subject to variation due to moon sightings.
Arafat Day
- Predicted Date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Arafat Day, marked on the day before Eid Al Adha, is one of the holiest days in Islam. It also happens to come before a long holiday.
Eid Al Adha
- Predicted Dates: Friday, June 6 – Sunday, June 8, 2025
Eid Al Adha, along with Arafat Day, offers a potential four-day weekend in June.
Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year)
- Predicted Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Observed on the first day of Muharram, it is the beginning of the Islamic calendar. It may be moved to a weekday if it falls on a weekend.
Birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
- Forecast Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Another religious holiday that may grant residents a long weekend.
UAE National Day
- Dates: Tuesday, December 2 – Wednesday, December 3, 2025
One of the UAE's favorite holidays, National Day commemorates the establishment of the UAE in 1971. Locals usually choose to supplement this holiday with some additional days of yearly leave.
New Year's Day
- Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2026
The first of the Gregorian calendar year public holidays, New Year's Day is marked around the UAE.
Long Weekends to Watch
If predictions are accurate, UAE residents might have a few long weekends during 2025. Specifically:
- June 5 to June 8 (Arafat Day + Eid Al Adha) - Potential four-day summer holiday.
- December 2 to 3 (National Day) - Combine with leave to extend it to five days' break.
By tactful annual leave planning, it has been suggested in some reports that you may be able to take 14 days' leave as 42 days' absence over the year.
A New Rule for Holiday Scheduling
For public holidays 2025 in the United Arab Emirates news is under the new UAE Cabinet Resolution No.27 of 2024, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, it can be moved to the beginning or end of the week although not for Islamic holidays like Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha.
For example, in case Islamic New Year or Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday coincided with a Saturday, a weekday might be granted off instead. The change keeps locals from losing out on public holidays to weekend overlap. Two holidays cannot, however, be granted at the same time.
It is also notable that the federal cabinet cannot override local government approval for additional holidays not specified in the federal cabinet.
Why It Matters
Upcoming holidays 2025 dates are not just important to know for planning vacation time, it affects everything from school calendars and road traffic to business hours and economic forecasts.
The majority of residents take public holidays, either domestically to Ras Al Khaimah or overseas to Europe or Southeast Asia. Tour operators and airlines have the habit of coming out with special promotions during holidays, and foresightful tourists reserving ahead are able to negotiate better rates.
With a balanced mix of cultural, national, and religious holidays, 2025 is a shining year for UAE residents looking to enjoy perfectly timed vacations throughout the year. The UAE official and predicted public holidays offer sufficient planning, and the new scheduling choice ensures that holidays on weekends will not be missed opportunities for rest and celebration.
Whether it's a low-key weekend at home, a beach staycation, or a full-on getaway, now is the time to put those leave days in place and set your calendar to go. With a bit of planning, 2025 can be your most balanced year yet both in and out of Office, and with Beno’s smooth and seamless rentals your rides are also sorted, so don’t wait up and book your slot today!
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