The UAE Cabinet has issued Resolution No. 27 of 2024, delineating public holidays for both the public and private sectors in 2025, according to the official gazette.
UAE Public Holidays for 2025
Public and private sector holidays in the United Arab Emirates for 2025 have been defined by Resolution No. 27 of 2024, as reported in the official gazette.
This resolution was formulated subsequent to a comprehensive review of various legislative documents, including the Constitution, Federal Law No. 11 of 2017 conferring certain competencies upon the Cabinet, Federal Law No. 33 of 2021 regulating Labour Relations, along with its amendments, Federal Law No. 49 of 2022 concerning Human Resources in the Federal Government, and Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2019 pertaining to public holidays in the state and its subsequent amendments.
Flexibility and exceptions
As per Article No. 1 of the resolution, January 1, 2025, has been designated as a one-day public holiday for both sectors to commemorate the New Year. Moreover, a three-day holiday has been allocated for both the public and private sectors from Shawwal 1 to 3, contingent upon the sighting of the new moon. In instances where Ramadan spans 30 days, the 30th day of Ramadan will be observed as an official holiday, which will be added to the Eid al-Fitr holidays.
The calendar also includes Arafat Day on Dhu Al Hijjah 9, followed by Eid Al-Adha from Dhu Al Hijjah 10 to 12, and Muharram 1, which marks the Islamic New Year. Additionally, Rabi Al Awwal 12, commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), and December 2 and 3, 2025, marking the 54th UAE National Day holiday, have been delineated as public holidays.
Article 2 of the resolution stipulates that, apart from Eid holidays, any official holiday mentioned in Article 1 may be shifted to the commencement or conclusion of the week by a decision of the Cabinet. However, Article 3 specifies that a public holiday cannot be transferred if it coincides with another public holiday or a weekend.
Furthermore, Article 4 grants local governments the authority to endorse additional official holidays for their respective departments and institutions, beyond those outlined in the resolution, to commemorate special occasions or for other valid reasons. The issuance of the new resolution has rendered the previous Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2019 null and void, along with any conflicting provisions.This resolution will be enforced starting on January 1, 2025.