UAE Public Holidays 2025: A Guide to Long Weekends and Festive Plans

UAE Public Holidays

When entering the year 2025, people living in UAE can expect the year to be full of opportunities to relax, have fun, and travel. The UAE has many public holidays that are celebrated at different occasions of the year; thus, there are many opportunities to both have fun and travel. These holidays are ideal for relaxation and spending time with family whether you’re planning a staycation, a short international trip or any cultural event. In this guide, we will highlight the main UAE public holidays in 2025 and give you some recommendations on how to improve the use of your days off.

The UAE’s public holidays are according to the Islamic (Hijri) calendar and therefore the dates may differ slightly due to the sighting of the moon. These holidays are of cultural, religious and national importance, which is why people can not only celebrate traditions, but also have a good rest. As for the long weekends during Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and UAE National Day, there is always a great chance to travel either within the country or internationally.

When planning your 2025, it is always good to follow official communication to maximize on these days off. If you are looking for some quiet time in the countryside of the UAE, planning a trip to other regions or simply have an important family event to attend in the UAE in 2025, you will have a lot of interesting things to see and experience. It is now time to discuss these holidays and how you can make the most of the time during these holidays.

UAE Public Holidays 2025: Full List

The UAE has adopted the Islamic or Hijri calendar for its public holidays hence the dates may slightly vary depending on the sighting of the moon. Below is the tentative list of public holidays for 2025:

New Year’s Day

UAE Public Holidays

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Significance: This is a globally celebrated event to usher in the Gregorian New Year. It is a perfect time to look back at the previous year and establish new goals, no matter whether you are expecting a large company during the holidays or staying alone.

Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)

Eid Al-Adha Festival of Sacrifice

Expected Dates: Sunday 30th March – Tuesday 1st April 2025 (3 days)

Significance: Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated after Ramadan which is a month of fasting. It is a time to be happy, spending time with loved ones, being kind to others by donating something and consuming lots of food. It’s also a chance to have a few days off or a weekend break to travel to places like Oman or Georgia.

Arafat Day

Expected Date: Friday, June 6, 2025

Significance: Arafat Day is the second day of the Hajj and is considered sacred by Muslims more than any other day of the year. It is a day of prayer and fasting and most people go to work to pray or stay at home with their families.

Eid Al-Adha : Festival of Sacrifice

Eid Al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)

Expected Dates: June 7, 2025 – June 9, 2025 (3 days – Saturday, Sunday, Monday)

Significance: Eid Al-Adha is celebrated to mark the Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience in order to sacrifice his son. This holiday includes prayer, giving, and the ritual slaughter of animals. It is also a great opportunity to have a family dinner or go abroad, as many people from UAE prefer to travel to Europe or Asia.

Hijri New Year

Expected Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025

Significance: The Islamic New Year is the start of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a time that people will start to think about life and also get closer to God. Though it is not as popular as some other holidays, many people still look forward to this day to make a note of the days that have elapsed.

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid Al-Nabi)

Expected Date: Friday, August 15, 2025

Significance: This holiday is in honor of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is marked by prayers, congregational meetings, and celebrations. This is a chance to remember the life and the word of the Prophet.

Commemoration Day

Date: Sunday, November 30, 2025

Significance: Commemoration Day is celebrated in order to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the martyrs of UAE and their courage. It is a day on which the people of the country celebrate togetherness and power of the nation.

UAE National Day

Dates: December 1 (Monday) – December 2 (Tuesday), 2025

Significance: The UAE National Day is celebrated as a reminder of the joining of the seven emirates into one united country in 1971. This holiday entails parades, fireworks and other patriotic activities and as such, is considered to be one of the most important holidays in the year. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the family or to learn more about the national symbols of the UAE.

How to Plan Your 2025 around These Holidays

UAE public holidays are good for rest, travelling or to go back home and meet the family. Here’s how to make the most of these holidays:

1. Take a Staycation or Explore Your Own City

The UAE is indeed crammed with attractions ranging from the most popular to the somewhat obscure. Weekend and other off days like New Year’s Day, Arafat Day or Commemoration Day are ideal to go around the UAE but do not require traveling abroad. You can take a trip to the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, sunbathe at the beaches of Fujairah or go for trekking in the Hajar Mountains in Hatta. Sharjah has cultural attractions, while Abu Dhabi has enormous deserts that are ideal for a quiet vacation.

2. Short International Getaways

If you are in the mood to travel then long weekends including Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and UAE National Day are ideal for a break. Some of these include Maldives, Georgia, Oman because of the short flying hours, luxurious accommodation and rich culture. It is not a secret that Europe, Asia and even Africa are just a couple of hours flight away so you can always take a quick break and try something different.

3. Family and Tradition

Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha are cultural and religious holidays that are cherished by Muslims. They are days to remember, to pray, to spend with beloved ones, and to help others. Such holidays allow experiencing the culture and the principles of the United Arab Emirates. This is an opportunity to be with loved ones, taste homemade food and attend various events and celebrations.

4. Cultural and National Pride

Other public holidays include the UAE National Day and the Commemoration Day where the people of the UAE get to enjoy and appreciate the country’s history, culture, and accomplishments. These holidays promote togetherness as well as pride. You can attend parades, go to monuments such as the Etihad Museum, or watch the national celebrations in the UAE, in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Participate in activities that will showcase the progress of the UAE since its formation.

Ideas on How to Make the Most of the Holiday Season

To make the most out of the UAE public holidays, here are a few tips:

Read Official Statements

The exact dates of Islamic holidays can be found in official bulletins. These are moon-sighting holidays hence the dates may vary and it is important to be in touch to make sure that your travelling or holidays are well planned.

Book Early

There is always high demand for travel as people prepare to go on their respective public holidays. Famous tourist attractions and hotels, restaurants, and other places can be easily overbooked, so be prepared to book a table or a room far ahead. This will help you to be able to secure the best deals without having to deal with the stress that comes with last minute rush.

Utilize Travel Packages

Most of the travel agencies provide attractive weekend tour and travel deals during such holidays. Search for offers such as flight and accommodation, or flight, accommodation, and sightseeing to help you save your time and money. These are especially useful when it is a festive season like Eid or National Day and everyone needs to rush out to the airport.

Combine Leave with Holidays

You should also consider taking your annual leave with some of the public holidays to create longer holidays. For example, if you have a weekend off during Eid or UAE National Day, then you can take a few days leave and can get one week break which is quite beneficial.

Conclusion

Not only the UAE public holidays in 2025 are an opportunity to have some rest, but also an opportunity to travel, enjoy and create the best memories with your family. These holidays are perfect whether you are trying to have a staycation in your state or country or you are planning a family reunion. Remember these dates and always be prepared for something new, so 2025 will become an amazing year.

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