UAE workers are able to make the most of annual leave in 2025 by strategically using vacation days to maximise holiday time this year.
The UAE has announced prospective holiday dates for occasions such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, the Islamic New Year and National Day.
By booking annual leave strategically, it will be possible to have 46 days off and multiple full weeks off for just a few days of annual leave.
UAE holidays in 2025
Every UAE employee is entitled to at least two days of paid leave for each month working in the country. That’s 24 days of paid annual leave. Follow this guide to maximise UAE holiday time.
- Eid Al Fitr 2025: Shawwal 1-3
- Arafat Day 2025: Dhu Al Hijjah 9
- Eid Al Adha 2025: Dhu Al Hijjah 10-12
- Islamic New Year 2025: Muharram 1
- Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday: Rabi Al Awwal 12
- Eid Al Etihad 2025: December 2-3
Booking annual leave carefully, and strategically choosing days off around 2025 UAE national holidays, can more than double time off if weekends are taken into account.
See below to calculate how to make the most of the holidays by booking annual leave strategically.
All calculations are based on the assumption of having two full days off for weekends on a Saturday and Sunday in the UAE.
2025 UAE public holiday dates are subject to moon-sightings and may change or be confirmed by the Government in advance of the date.
Read on to find out how to turn 17 days of annual leave into 46 days out of the office in the UAE in 2025.
Eid Al Fitr 2025
In 2025, Ramadan could start on Saturday, March 1. However, it is subject to change based on relevant moon sightings in the UAE and official confirmation by the Government.
Following Ramadan, the Eid Al Fitr holiday will be either three or four days. The UAE Cabinet has declared the first three days of Shawwal will be holidays. In the event that Ramadan lasts for 30 days, Ramadan 30 will also be given as a public holiday.
It is expected that the corresponding dates will see Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 2.
Plan carefully and you can have a long vacation, with minimal annual leave used up.
Book Thursday, April 3 to Friday, April 4 off from work to get the longest possible break for the fewest days.
If Eid Al Fitr falls as expected, you will be out of your workplace for nine consecutive days and use only two days of your annual leave allowance.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha 2025
The next holiday announced by the UAE for 2025 will be Arafat Day. This is forecast to take place on the ninth day of Dhul Hijja.
In 2025 this is expected to be on Friday, June 6. It has been announced as a national holiday in the UAE and will be immediately followed by Eid Al Adha.
This will fall between Dhul Hijja 10 and 12, which is expected to correspond to Saturday, June 7 to Monday, June 9.
If your employer gives each of these days off and the dates fall as expected, then booking Tuesday, June 10 to Friday, June 13 as a holiday would give maximum returns for the fewest possible days of annual leave entitlement.
Four days of annual leave will result in ten consecutive days out of work.
Hijri New Year 2025
Also known as the Islamic New Year, this holiday marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year.
In 2025 the holiday is likely to fall on Friday, June 27.
With this being a national holiday in the UAE, it is possible to turn the long weekend into an extended break for just a few days of annual leave.
Book off Monday, June 23 to Thursday, June 26. If you take these days off you will have nine consecutive days out of the work for a mere four days of annual leave.
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday 2025
The UAE has already announced Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday as a holiday in 2025.
It will fall on Rabi Al Awwal 12, which is expected to correspond to Friday, September 5.
Turn it into another full week off by using annual leave reservation from Monday, September 1 to Thursday, September 4.
This will give you nine consecutive days out of the office and use up just four days of annual leave.
Eid Al Etihad/UAE National Day 2025
In the UAE National Day, now known as Eid Al Etihad, will be celebrated with a two-day mid-week holiday on Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
With the break happening in the middle of the week there will not be a long weekend, but savvy holiday booking around this time can still give an extended vacation towards the end of the year.
Take annual leave days off bookings one Monday, December 1 and Thursday, December 4 to Friday, December 5 and another nine-day holiday can be accrued using just three days of annual leave.
Public holidays cannot be transferred to another day in the event they coincide with another public holiday or fall on the weekend.
However, local governments in the UAE may determine other public holidays for its own government departments and corporations on any occasions related to it or for any other reason.
With the exception of Eid Holidays, the Cabinet may – pursuant to a resolution it issues – transfer any of the public holidays to the beginning or end of the week.
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