Unified holidays for the private and public sector

The UAE government has decided to grant the private sector the same number of holidays as the

public sector. Here is all you need to know about the changes in your public holidays.

If you are counting down the days to your next holiday, you are not alone. Taking a break from

constantly working is important to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Apart from your entitled

annual leaves, the UAE cabinet grants a number of public holidays for its residents as well. The UAE

government recently made a move to unify public holidays for the private and public sector to

enhance the balance between the two sectors and support the national economy. This decision also

aims to encourage more Emiratis to work in the private sector.

Here is the updated list of public holidays for the years 2019 and 2020 in the UAE applicable to both

private and public sectors:

Eid Al Fitr: From last day of the month of Ramadan to the 3 rd of Shawwal (4 days)
Arafah day: 9 th of Dhu Al Hijjah (1 day)
Eid Al Adha: 10 th , 11 th and 12 th of Dhu Al Hijjah (3 days)
Hijri New Year: 1 st of Muharram
Commemoration Day: 1 st December (Earlier it was on the 30 th December)
UAE National Day: 2 nd and 3 rd December (2 days)
Gregorian New Year: 1 st of January