Long weekend loading… depending on how the UAE National Day dates fall

If you’ve been dreaming of a proper long break to wrap up the year, 2025 might be your year. UAE National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, falls on Tuesday, December 2, with the next day an official holiday too. That gives you two days off right in the middle of the week. But here’s the interesting bit: thanks to public holiday rules, those days could be moved to the start or end of the week, which could turn this into a proper long weekend, or maybe even a five-day stretch. Not a bad way to round off the year, right?

The official dates

UAE National Day is celebrated every year on December 2 and 3, marking the union of the seven emirates. In 2025, these dates fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, which means those days are public holidays.

How a longer weekend could happen

The UAE public holiday law may allow non-Eid holidays to be moved to the start or end of the week, opening up the possibility of longer breaks. In 2025, this could mean the public holiday on Wednesday, December 3 being shifted to Monday, December 1, creating a four-day weekend from Saturday through Tuesday.

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What about five days off?

It’s also possible that Monday, December 1 could be added as an extra public holiday, rather than replacing Wednesday’s. If that happens, we’d be looking at a five-day break, combining the weekend and the three days of holidays.

Commemoration day and more

Sunday November 30 is Commemoration Day, which isn’t always a public holiday. But local governments may declare additional holidays at their discretion, so it could potentially be included to extend the break even further.

When will we know for sure?

The official holiday schedule is usually announced closer to the dates. So keep an eye out if you’re hoping to plan an extended winter break.