Big changes are coming to how public holidays will be celebrated in the UAE next year! In May 2024, the UAE Cabinet announced the official holiday calendar for 2025, setting the stage for a more exciting and flexible holiday experience. While the calendar lists all the usual days off, there’s is a significant change being made.
Also read: Will There Be A Public Holiday For Christmas In Dubai?
Breaking Down The Public Holiday Calendar
The 2025 public holiday schedule includes two types of holidays:
- Fixed Holidays: These fall on the same dates every year, based on the Gregorian calendar.
- Lunar Holidays: These holidays are based on the Islamic calendar and rely on the sighting of the moon, meaning their dates will be confirmed closer to the time.
Also read: UAE To Get 4 Days Off For The Last Long Weekend Of 2024
What Is The New Change Being Made To Public Holidays?
Here’s the big update: a new rule, part of UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, has changed how holidays will be handled when they fall on weekends. If a public holiday lands on the weekend the Cabinet may decide to move the official day off to the following weekday instead.
Here’s an example to put things into perspective for you – if in 2025 a public holiday falls on a Sunday, you can expect to get the day off on Monday instead! However, it’s important to note that Eid holidays are excluded from this new rule and will remain as they traditionally are.
Also read: UAE Announces New National Celebration Day On February 28th – 2025 Public Holiday
New Holidays May Be On The Way In 2025
And wait, there’s more! The resolution also opens the door for local governments to introduce additional public holidays for specific occasions or reasons. This means some emirates might get extra days off that don’t have to apply for the rest of the country. It’s a fantastic opportunity for unique celebrations and recognising special local events.
So, if you hear an announcement that Sharjah is calling for a day off in the middle of a random month, be sure to check with Gulf Buzz to know if it applies to Dubai and the rest of UAE, too!
So, What Do All These Changes Mean For You?
If you normally get Saturdays and Sundays off then all these changes mean that 2024 will bring you many more long weekends and even some extra unexpected holidays! So, start planning ahead and get ready to make the most of your time off in 2025!
You may also like: 6 Visa-Free Destinations For UAE Residents For The Last Long Weekend Of 2024
