How long will the UAE National Day holiday break be?

Dubai: UAE residents have only one public holiday remaining in 2025, according to the official UAE Cabinet calendar. The final long break of the year, Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day), is approaching soon and the dates were officially announced for the federal sector. 

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has declared that Monday and Tuesday, December 1 and 2, 2025, will be official holidays for federal government bodies to commemorate the UAE's 54th Union Day. Consequently, federal government employees will have a four-day break, including the Saturday-Sunday weekend.

The notice is relevant to all ministries and federal agencies, with official work hours set to recommence on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Although this announcement pertains solely to federal government employees, a similar notice for the private sector is expected soon.

This suggests a probable four-day holiday for the UAE's private sector.

In the previous year, the public holiday occurred on Monday, December 2, and Tuesday, December 3, 2024, with work resuming on Wednesday, December 4. Including the usual weekend of Saturday and Sunday, the total break amounted to four days.

According to Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024 Concerning Public Holidays in the State, Eid Al Etihad has fixed dates, with Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3 officially designated as holidays.

Under Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, the UAE Cabinet has the authority to move public holidays, except for Eid holidays, to the start or end of the workweek through an official resolution.

The law also allows local governments to declare additional holidays for their departments and entities for specific occasions or other reasons.

This article was published on July 11, 2025 and has been updated since.