Public and private sector workers will get equal days off in 2019 and 2020…

Mark your calendars, the UAE government has confirmed the full list of UAE public holidays for 2019 and 2020.

In a Tweet announcing the holidays on the UAE government official page, the UAE cabinet has said it will grant the private and public sector an equal amount of holidays both this and next year.

In previous years, public sector workers have been given additional days off, but this year both sectors will be given 14 days of public holiday.

According to the Tweet the ‘decree aims at achieving a balance between the two sectors and supporting the national economy’.

The Islamic holidays listed are based on the Hijri calendar, which is a lunar calendar. So, the dates are still subject to local sightings of the moon.

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Although previously the government has given estimated dates for the Islamic holidays, this year it looks like they’re waiting until closer to the time.

Notably, two public holidays – Israa Wa Miraaj and Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH)  birthday, were not listed.

UAE National Day – which always falls on December 2, normally means one day off for private sector workers, but according to the Tweet, this year everyone will enjoy two days off to mark the UAE’s 48th birthday on December 2 and 3. December 1 is also a public holiday for Commemoration Day which falls on November 30 (a Saturday), so we’ll likely get a five-day weekend to kickstart December.

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Here’s the full list of UAE public holidays:

January 1: New Year’s Day

Like many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the UAE, and one of three secular holidays observed in the country. This year, it falls on a Tuesday, so it won’t be a long weekend.

June, Dependent on moon: Eid Al Fitr

Eid Al Fitr roughly means ‘breaking of the fast’ and is the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. It’s dependent on the sighting of the moon, and automatically begins after the end of Ramadan. We won’t know until closer to the time whether this will fall on Monday June 3 or Tuesday June 4.

August, Dependent on moon: Arafat Day

This holiday marks the second day of the yearly pilgrimage to Haj, and will likely mean a day off. It falls on a Saturday in 2019.

August, Dependent on moon: Eid Al Adha

Honouring Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, we typically get three days off for this holiday – so combined with Arafat Day, we’ll likely get Sunday through Tuesday off. This means it could be a five-day weekend in August.

August 31: Hijri, Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year in 2019 fell on a Saturday so we didn’t get an extra day off for this holiday.

November, Dependent on moon: Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) birthday

FAHR has re-added a previously-absent holiday to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday. It will be observed on the 12-Rabi al-awwal-1441, which is expected to fall on Saturday, November 9. So, it doesn’t look like we’ll get a day off for this public holiday.

November 30 – Commemoration Day

Formerly referred to as Martyr’s Day, this holiday honours the Emiratis who have died while protecting their country. It falls on a Saturday in 2019, which means it won’t be combined with National Day.

December 2 – UAE National Day

2019 will mark the UAE’s 48th birthday, celebrating the unification of the seven emirates in 1971. It falls on a Monday this year, and as we will have a two-day holiday on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 December.

We’ll update this page through the year as public holidays are announced, so be sure to bookmark it.

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