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Life

August 20, 2025

A significant shift in how we plan our calendars has arrived. At the start of this year, the UAE’s new public holiday legislation – Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024 – came into effect, introducing key rules that every resident needs to understand to maximise their time off.
The new law empowers the government to strategically move holidays, paving the way for more extended breaks and smarter long-weekend planning. Here’s what you need to know.
Are UAE Public Holidays Transferable?
The new law brings clarity and flexibility. Crucially, with the exception of the Eid holidays, the UAE Cabinet now holds the authority to transfer any public holiday to the beginning or end of the week to create a longer continuous break.
However, there’s a key stipulation: a public holiday cannot be transferred if it already coincides with another holiday or falls on a weekend. This strategic approach is designed to minimise mid-week days off and consolidate time off for a better work-life balance.
A prime example is the upcoming UAE National Day. Falling on a Tuesday and Wednesday this year, the Cabinet could potentially issue a resolution to move the holiday to the preceding Monday (December 1st), creating a spectacular five-day break from Friday, November 28th to Wednesday, December 3rd. Official confirmation, however, will come closer to the date.
UAE Public Holidays 2025: How to plan your long weekends and extended breaks?

The long weekends still to come in 2025
With the first half of the year behind us, UAE residents have two more public holidays to look forward to, both offering strong potential for extended time off.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH)Predicted Date: Friday, September 5, 2025What to expect: This holiday is currently predicted to fall directly on a Friday. If confirmed, this would automatically grant residents a three-day weekend (Friday to Sunday). As it’s not an Eid holiday, the date is subject to official moon sighting confirmation.
UAE National DayConfirmed Dates: Tuesday, December 2 & Wednesday, December 3, 2025What to expect: This mid-week break is the one to watch. Under the new law, the government could choose to move these days off to the preceding Monday (Dec 1st) to create a five-day long weekend. Alternatively, it will remain a two-day break splitting the workweek. The decision will be announced officially later in the year.
Armed with this knowledge, residents can now look ahead with optimism, ready to leverage the new law’s flexibility for a well-deserved break. Keep your calendars open and watch for official announcements.
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