Public Holidays in UAE for 2024 and 2025

The government announces public holidays in UAE at the beginning of each year. These holidays are mostly the same holidays that have been celebrated throughout the years for a long time.

The UAE government announces holidays on New Year, Eid, Ramadan, Prophet’s birthday, Martyrs’ Day, UAE National Day, etc annually. All government institutions, schools, and private organizations are closed these days. Every holiday holds great significance and has been celebrated for a long time.

In this Dbd guide, you will learn about the various public holidays for the years 2024 and 2025, along with information on each public holiday.

You will also be aware of all the school holidays in UAE that the government has announced for their students. So if you are excited to learn about UAE holidays, then stick with us until the end.

List of public holidays in UAE in 2024

Let’s take a look at some of the most important public holidays in UAE for the calendar year 2024: ^[1]U.AE, “Public holidays of UAE, … Continue reading

Holidays	Dates
New Year’s Day	January 1
Lailat Al-Meiraj	March 1
Beginning of Ramadan	April 3
Eid Al-Fitr	April 30 – May 4
Arafat Day	July 8 – 9
Eid Al-Adha	July 10 – 11
Islamic New Year	July 30
Prophet’s Birthday	October 8
Commemoration Day	November 30
National Day:	December 2 – 3

Hence, these are the official public holidays announced for the fiscal year 2024. You can now make plans to enjoy the remaining holidays with your family at home or go out on vacation.

List of public holidays in UAE in 2025

Now, if you are wondering what the official public holidays announced in 2025 are, then check out the list below:

Holidays	Dates
New Year’s Day	January 1
Lailat Al-Meiraj	February 17 – 18
Ed Al-Fitr Holiday	April 20-23
Arafat Day	June 27
Eid Al-Adha	June 28 – 30
Islamic New Year	July 19
Prophet’s Birthday	September 27
Commemoration Day	December 1
National Day	December 2

These are the announced public holidays for the fiscal year 2025. If additional holidays are announced by the UAE government, we will surely update them in our guide.

School holidays in UAE

The schools in UAE start in August and end in June. During this period, the students get to enjoy two short holidays. Between August and June, all schools must remain open for a total of at least 182 days.

In addition to the holidays we mentioned above, schools in UAE also announce some holidays that only students and teachers get. Let’s take a look at the holidays that most schools in UAE have announced for their students:

• The first school holiday is the winter break which starts from mid-December to early January.
• A Spring break holiday is also given by almost all schools in the UAE. It starts in late March and ends in early April. Generally, the spring break holiday takes place for about three weeks.
• Some schools announce a long summer break instead of short spring breaks. This break lasts more than 2 months. These summer holidays start in late June and classes begin in the first weeks of September.

Details on public holidays in UAE

Some people living in the UAE might be unaware of the significance of these UAE public holidays. So we have briefly explained some holidays that are celebrated in the UAE.

Let’s take an in-depth look at some of these holidays and their significance:

1. New Year’s Day

New years day in UAE is celebrated on January 1, just like everywhere else in the world. The public offices and educational institutions remain closed on this day.

2. Lailat Al-Meiraj

Lailat Al-Meiraj marks the night when Allah took Prophet Muhammad to heaven. In 2024, the day fell on March 1 and it falls on February 17 and 18 in 2025.

The date of this public holiday changes every year as it is based on the lunar calendar. The occasion is celebrated throughout the Muslim communities as a significant event in Islam lore.

3. Beginning of Ramadan

The first day of Ramadan is a time of celebration for Muslims all around the world. In the UAE, it is also a public holiday, giving people the opportunity to spend time with their families and friends.

The holiday marks the start of the holy month, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. This year, Ramadan falls in the summer months, when the days are long and hot.

For those fasting, the day begins before dawn with a meal known as Suhoor. This is followed by the first prayer of the day, known as Fajr.

The fast is then observed until sunset, when the evening prayer, known as “Maghrib”, is performed. After breaking the fast with a meal known as “Iftar”, the final prayer of the day, known as “Isha”, is performed.

The fast is observed throughout the night until dawn the following day. The cycle then repeats itself for the duration of Ramadan.

4. Eid Al-Fitr

The festival of Eid Al-Fitr is extremely important in Islam. It falls on the day on which Ramadan ends. The festival is celebrated for three days, and people exchange gifts & visit relatives during this time.

In 2024, the Eid Al-Fitr holiday was given on May 3rd, even though it started on May 2nd.

Many Muslims celebrate by listening to a sermon called “Khutba” and hugging the people close to them. They also exchange gifts and invite each other for food and dinner, which is called “Zakat Al-Fitr”.

Lots of singing and dancing also take place during the ceremony, and local people raise money to donate to charity on the occasion of Eid.

5. Arafat Day

Arafat is a public holiday celebrated annually on the ninth day of the Islamic month of “Dhu al-Hijjah”. In 2024, it starts on July 7 and ends on July 8. In the UAE, it is celebrated for one day during the month of June or July, and the government gives a public holiday to the residents each year.

It commemorates the day when “Eid Al-Adha” pilgrims stand on Mount Arafat during their “Hajj”, which is the word they use for the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Arafat day is also known as the “day of Arafah” and is considered to be the most important day of Hajj. Muslims believe that on this day, the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon on Mount Arafat.

6. Eid Al-Adha

The holiday of Eid Al-Adha occurs on July 10, 2024, in the UAE. Eid Al-Adha is a very important Islamic holiday that takes place annually on the tenth day of “Dhul Hijjah”.

The holiday celebrated the day when Prophet Ibraham chose to let his own son be sacrificed to prove he was obedient to God.

Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid Al-Adha by performing animal sacrifices, special prayers, and sharing food & gifts with family & friends.

The sacrificial meat of goats is divided into three equal parts. The first part is taken by family members, the second part is donated to the needy and poor, and the third part is shared among relatives & friends.

7. Al Hijri – Islamic New Year

Al Hijri is also an important public holiday in UAE that falls on July 30, 2024. A new Islamic calendar year begins on this day, and the first month is described as “Muharram”.

On this holiday, schools and government organizations are closed in the UAE. This holiday is celebrated by Muslims all over the world.

Muslims believe that this was the day when Prophet Muhammad started his journey from Mecca to Medina. This event is known as the Hijrah, and it marks the start of a new Islamic calendar.

8. Milad Un Nabi

October 8 is a special day for the people of the United Arab Emirates, as it is the birthday of Prophet Mohammed. The day is known as “Milad Un Nabi” and is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm.

All schools, colleges, government organizations, and banks are closed on this day, and many private companies also give their employees the day off as one of the important UAE holidays.

People exchange gifts and visit each other’s homes to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday on this day. It is a time of great happiness and joy for all Muslims in the UAE.

9. Commemoration Day

Commemoration Day is among the important public holidays in UAE for the people to celebrate. On this day, the government announces a public holiday to respect various Emirati martyrs who lost their lives while fighting for the country.

The date of the commemoration day falls on November 30 every year. By commemorating this day, the people of the UAE ensure that their martyrs’ sacrifices will never be forgotten.

10. UAE National day

UAE National day is a very special and joyous occasion for all the citizens of the UAE. It is celebrated on 2nd December every year to mark the unification of all seven emirates to form the United Arab Emirates.

The day is filled with many activities and events organized by the government and private organizations. People from all walks of life come together to celebrate this special day.

Parades, musical performances, cultural shows, fireworks displays, and many other activities are held on this day. The whole nation is decorated with flags and lights.

This is a very special day for the people of UAE, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy.

Related Stories

• Check out this guide on UAE flag day if you want to know how you can celebrate an important day in the nation’s history.
• Some of the most important holidays are the Eid holidays in UAE. See how it is celebrated, read its history, and learn its significance.
• Check out this Dbd guide on – UAE National Day, to learn when, why, and how it is celebrated.
• Wanna celebrate this Mother’s day with immense joy and love? Check out this Dbd guide on – Mother’s day in UAE.

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FAQ on public holidays in UAE

Final thoughts

Public holidays in UAE are announced by the government for the citizens to enjoy and celebrate with their families.

These holidays play an important role in the social and cultural life of the people in UAE.

The most popular UAE holidays are New Year’s Day, Eid, Arafat Day, Islamic New Year, Prophet’s Birthday, Commemoration Day, etc. Which holiday in UAE are you the most excited about?

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