Holidays & Celebrations

Public holidays in the UAE: 2024 and 2025

Living in the United Arab Emirates? Here’s a list of all of the UAE’s public holidays you need to know in 2024 and 2025, as well as other important dates to make a note of on your calendar.

Holidays UAE
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By Expatica

Updated 25-3-2024

Whether you’re living in the UAE or just visiting, it’s important to note these important holidays, as some businesses may be closed. To ensure you don’t miss out on anything important, make sure to mark these important dates in your calendar.

An overview of public holidays in the UAE

There are 14 official public holidays in the UAE. 

One of the biggest public holiday events is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. It begins the day after the sighting of the crescent moon, so the dates can only be estimated and may vary by a day or two. 

People kneel outside and pray as part of the Eid-al-Fitr celebration in the UAE
Eid-el-Fitr (Photo: Mohamed Zarandah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Workers are entitled to leave during Eid al-Fitr, and transport services and shopping malls tend to have extended hours. There also tend to be celebratory firework displays, and families and friends meet to exchange gifts. You can also find out more about the best festivals in the UAE and how they’re celebrated.

Public holidays in the UAE in 2024

This is a list of public holidays in the UAE during 2024.

DateHoliday
1 January (Monday)New Year’s Day
8–12 April (Monday–Friday)Eid al-Fitr holiday, with the main day of Eid al-Fitr on 10 April (Wednesday)
15 June (Saturday)Arafat (Hajj) Day
16–18 June (Sunday– Tuesday)Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) holiday, with the main day of Eid al-Adha on 16 June (Sunday)
7 July (Sunday)Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
15 September (Sunday)Prophet Muhammad’s birthday
1 December (Sunday)Commemoration Day
2–3 December (Monday and Tuesday)National Day and the following day is a holiday

Important dates in the UAE in 2024

DateImportant date
11 March (Monday)Start of Ramadan
21 March (Thursday)Mother’s Day
21 June (Friday)Father’s Day

There are no daylight saving time changes in the UAE; unlike some other countries, the clock remains the same throughout the year. The United Arab Emirates follows Gulf Standard Time.

Public holidays in the UAE in 2025

This is a list of public holidays in the UAE during 2025.

DateHoliday
1 January (Wednesday)New Year’s Day
29–31 March (Saturday–Monday)Eid al-Fitr holiday, with the main day of Eid al-Fitr on 30 March (Sunday)
5 June (Thursday)Arafat (Hajj) Day
6–8 June (Friday–Sunday)Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) holiday, with the main day of Eid al-Adha on 6 June (Friday)
26 June (Thursday)Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year)
4 September (Thursday)Prophet Muhammad’s birthday
1 December (Monday)Commemoration Day
2–3 December (Tuesday and Wednesday)National Day and the following day is a holiday

Important dates in the UAE during 2025

DateImportant date
28 February (Friday)Start of Ramadan
21 March (Friday)Mother’s Day
21 June (Saturday)Father’s Day

These dates are subject to change, since the Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and moon sightings.