List of Official Upcoming Public Holidays in UAE 2025

We always keep ourselves up to date with the list of public holidays in the UAE. After all, work-life balance is important, and even more so the festivals.  

Are you also willing to find out which days will officially be UAE holidays in 2025? Then keep reading this blog because we are going to cover every little detail.  

Other than stating the dates and events, we are also going to explain each holiday in brief. So, if there’s something that you don’t know about these holidays yet, you will by the end of this article.  

And if you’re planning to travel to the UAE any time soon, try to inculcate at least some of these holidays in your travel plan so you can have a truly immersive cultural experience in the country. 

Haven't booked your tickets yet? Get in touch with the best travel agency, Next Holidays, to book your package hassle-free.  

Let's find out the officially approved, upcoming public holidays in the UAE by the UAE Cabinet in 2025. 

The UAE celebrates eight public holidays in a year, which include national events and religious ones.  

Whether you’re a resident of the UAE looking forward to religious festivals and holidays or a traveler planning to experience the diverse culture during the holidays, the Eid holidays in the UAE are going to help you plan.  

Besides, if this year the holidays fall together with Saturday and Sunday, your weekends will only get longer and happier.  

Apart from the New Year, which is observed as a public holiday on 1st January, we have all national or public holidays in the UAE upcoming.  

Below, we have enlisted all holidays in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. Remember, religious festivals are all decided based on the sighting of the moon, which is why these are estimates only. The final dates of these public holidays will be declared later.  

The ending of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is marked by Eid al-Fitr. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and are deeply committed to prayers.  

Eid al-Fitr is the celebration of the successful completion of fasting, and this is done in the UAE with charity, feasts, and prayers. The festival is about people coming together. 

Zakat al-Fitr, which refers to food in the form of charity, is given to further denote the ending of a month’s fasting.  

The UAE also observes festive offers, night markets, and feasts. People go out with their friends and family to enjoy it with their loved ones.  

One of the longest-awaited religious holidays in the UAE, the public holidays for Eid Al-Fitr are observed on Shawwal 1, 2, and 3, the exact dates of which will be concluded based on moon sighting.  

Here’s everything you need to know about Eid-al-Fitr in Dubai 2025. ?

Arafat Day: 5 June 2025 

Observed on Dhu Al Hijjah 9, Arafat Day is related to the Hajj pilgrimage. It is the second day of Hajj and commemorates the highly significant Prophet Muhammad's Farewell Sermon on Mount Arafat, which is located near Mecca in Saudi Arabia. 

On this day, the Hajj pilgrims spend the entire day on the Plain of Arafat, seeking forgiveness from Allah while standing in prayer.  

Muslims who are not a part of Hajj are encouraged to fast the entire day due to the spiritual significance of the day. Thus, on Arafat Day, Muslims are focused on spiritual reflection, which mainly includes prayers and supplication.  

For those traveling around this time, we have good news for you—the 5th to 8th June will be a long weekend (Thursday–Sunday) since Arafat Day precedes Eid Al-Adha.  

Since Eid al-Adha is also marked in the Islamic calendar, the final dates are subject to moon sighting.  

In the UAE, the official public holidays calendar for 2025 includes three days’ holiday for the festival of Eid al-Adha, which is on Dhu Al Hijjah 10, 11, and 12.  

This festival marks the end of the Mecca pilgrimage and is among the most important religious and national holidays in the UAE.  

Called the Feast of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son because of his obedience to God.  

People sacrifice animals for the Feast of Sacrifice and cook the meat. One-third of the meat is eaten at home by the family members, and the rest is donated to those who are less fortunate.  

One of the upcoming public holidays in the UAE, Eid al-Adha, is considered to be paid leave even in the private sector. Thus, everyone in the UAE gets paid holidays of three days to celebrate this festival.  

Celebrating Al Hijri in the UAE is popular since the Hijri New Year implies the beginning of the new Islamic year 1445. The official date for the Islamic New Year has been declared for 26th June 2025. However, it is subject to moon sighting.  

Another upcoming public holidays in UAE, the festival marks the day when the Prophet migrated to Madinah from Makkah, which is why it is a very important festival for Muslims and is one of the national holidays in 2025 in the UAE.  

The day is celebrated by Muslims as a reflection of the past and the future. This is a great way to keep in mind what the new year brings while also remembering all that is gone.  

Instead of doing anything, people celebrate the day quietly, while contemplating and praying.  

The twelfth day of Rabi Al Awwal is celebrated as Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, which is estimated to fall on 5th September in 2025. Some Shia Muslims also celebrate it on the seventeenth day of Rabi Al Awwal.  

It's the birthday of the proclaimer of the Quran as well as the founder of Islam, which means it is a public holiday in most Muslim nations and is also one of the upcoming public holidays in the UAE.  

In fact, one of the popular UAE holidays in 2025, Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, is popularly called Mawlid al-Nabi or Eid Milad un-Nabi. 

People following Islam reflect on the teachings and life of the Prophet and celebrate the festival through prayers and meals. They also recite lectures from the Quran.  

The Commemoration Day is celebrated on 30th November every year to salute the Emirati men who fought for the nation’s sovereignty. It honors heroes who sacrificed themselves for their nation. 

One of the major public holidays in the UAE, Commemoration Day is a day of remembrance and national pride. It demonstrates the values of dedication and loyalty.  

People pay tribute to those who lost their lives fighting in the war.  

The first Emirati martyr, Salem Suhail Khamis, who was killed during the Greater Tunb, passed on 30th November, which is why Commemoration Day is celebrated on this date.  

2nd and 3rd December are celebrated as United Arab Emirates National Day every year to mark the unification of the seven Emirates in the year 1971. 

Fireworks, cultural festivals, cultural dances, parades, and whatnot! That's how the day is celebrated.  

Looking for key holidays to enjoy? Well, this is the one for you. Being the last public holiday in the year, it is celebrated with great joy and pleasure.  

What’s more, 2nd and 3rd December are weekday holidays for both the public and private sectors, declared by the government.  

On the UAE National Day in 2025, people come together to celebrate their independence from the British.  

For travelers as well as residents, these public holidays in the UAE are perfect for immersing ourselves in the culture and religion of the UAE.  

What's more, they are an opportunity for people to connect more—the religious holidays help people connect with their religion and their loved ones, while the national holidays promote unity among people.  

And for people traveling to the UAE, there is no better way to witness the traditions and culture of the UAE than to enjoy these holidays with the residents. And if you’re in Dubai, you can travel to other parts of the UAE by booking a holiday package from Dubai, UAE and experience what’s happening in other areas of the UAE.  

In total, there will be 8 public holidays in the UAE in 2025, out of which 7 are upcoming. 

In 2025, Eid al-Adha will be celebrated from 6th June to 8th June 2025, depending on moon sighting. 

There will be two days’ holiday for UAE National Day, i.e., 2nd and 3rd December 2025. 

There are 8 public holidays in the UAE, which last 13 days in total.