UAE Public Holidays: A Complete List for 2023

Now that the year 2022 is finally coming to an end, it is time to plan for your 2023 holidays. If you are someone who already resides in The UAE or planning a trip with your family to The UAE, this article might be of great help. The official holidays for the public and private sectors in 2023 have been authorized by the UAE Cabinet. It is expected that the citizens of the UAE will experience several extended vacations in 2023, including a six-day break. Employees in the UAE are guaranteed an equal amount of vacation days thanks to a uniform list for the public and commercial sectors. The calendar below lists dates according to the Islamic calendar, many of which are frequently validated when the dates are nearer. However, we have provided a rough timeline for when you should schedule your vacation in 2023 based on estimations of when these days could fall. For each month you work there, every employee in the UAE is entitled to at least two days of paid vacation, which is a total of 24 paid vacations annually. The entire list of holidays for the upcoming year is as follows, according to a social media post made by the UAE government:

When Is Ramadan Expected In 2023?

The blessed month of Ramadan is a time for celebration, introspection, and reflection. The lunar cycle, which is more frequently referred to as moon phases, is usually used to determine the Islamic calendar. Thus, accordingly, the Holy month of Ramadan begins around 10 days earlier every year based on the Gregorian calendar. Following the moon’s sighting over Mecca on March 22, 2023, Ramadan is anticipated to commence that day. Ramadan, which lasts for 30 days, will come to a close on Friday, April 21, and the Eid al-Fitr holiday will begin on either Saturday, April 22, or Sunday, April 23, depending on the day of the week. However, because the Hijri calendar is based on moon cycles and is decided by the sighting of a new crescent moon, it is only possible to ascertain the precise day of Ramadan a night or two before the holy month starts.

Important Dates to Remember during Ramadan in 2023:

When does Ramadan begin? Wednesday, 22nd of March.

How long does Ramadan last? 30 days.

When does Ramadan end? Friday, 21st of April.

When Is Laylat al-Qadr? On or around Monday, 17th of April.

When Does Eid al-Fitr Start? Saturday, 22nd of April.

Gregorian New Year: 1st of January 

All private sector employees in the UAE will have a paid holiday on Sunday, January 1, 2023, according to a statement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). However, as expected, most of the companies won’t provide the vacation because the 1st of January naturally falls on a weekend, and work will resume on Monday, January 2. Except for New Year’s Day, many holidays observed according to the Islamic calendar are not shifted when they coincide with the weekend, for obvious reasons. Workers in the public and commercial sectors in the UAE are frequently granted a paid holiday to provide them with some time off for special occasions. Everyone in the UAE celebrates New Year’s Eve and Day, regardless of whether the majority of local residents are Muslims or not, including most international employees and visitors.

Eid Al Fitr: 22nd-23rd of April 

Following the month of Ramadan is the significant celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, which translates to “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” In other words, Eid Al Fitr is the time when Muslims throughout the world commemorate the end of the 29 or 30 days they spent fasting from sunrise till dusk throughout the whole month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr, which can last up to three days, does not officially begin until the moon is visible, although it is anticipated to happen on April 22 or 23, 2023. During this period, only emergency services will be available, and only briefly will certain other offices with important services be open. In the Muslim community, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated as a season of large feasts, giving gifts to kids, and spending time with your loved ones. 

Arafat Day: 27th of June 

Arafat Day, which occurs about 70 days after Ramadan ends, is the second day of the pilgrimage known as Haj. In 2023, Arafat Day is expected to occur on the second day of Dhuʻl-Hijjah, the month of Pilgrimage. The ninth day of Dhuʻl-Hijjah, the Islamic calendar’s twelfth and final month is when Arafat Day occurs. The precise date may vary from one country to another since it depends on lunar observations. Meanwhile, it has been declared a national holiday in the UAE, and Eid Al Adha will follow right after. If your company grants each of these days off and the dates fall as predicted, then booking for Monday, June 26 as a holiday would produce the best results for the fewest number of annual leave days possible.

Eid Al Adha: 28th-30th of June 

The day following Arafat Day is when Eid Al Adha is celebrated, celebrating the end of the Hajj to Mecca. It is the second and biggest of the two holidays observed in Islam. It occurs from Dhuʻl-Hijjah 10 to 12, which corresponds to Wednesday, June 28 to 30. Muslims will have a long five-day weekend during this period when Arafat Day is combined with it (for those who usually have a two-day weekend). The celebration of Eid Al Adha is said to honor Ibrahim’s willingness to offer his son as a sacrifice after receiving instruction from God. According to the book of The Quran, Prophet Ibrahim shared his dream with his son, who then instructed his father to carry out the command. However, God stepped in and sent a sheep to replace his son.

Hijri (Islamic) New Year: 21st of July

Muslims commemorate Awal Muharram, also known as the Hijri New Year because two significant events in the Islamic calendar are symbolized on the day. The Arabic word for the first month in the Muslim calendar is Muharram, and Awal roughly translates to “beginning” in English. Therefore, the first day of Muharram is the Islamic New Year, and it is also the day on which the Hijra, the legendary pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina, started. The Hijri New Year holiday is most likely to occur on Friday, July 21, 2023. Since this is a national holiday in the UAE, the long weekend can be used as an extended vacation instead of only a few days of yearly leave. Take the week of July 17–20 off from Monday through Thursday. If you take these days off, you will have nine straight days off work for just four days of annual vacation.

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday: 29th of September 

In many nations with a majority of the Muslim population, the anniversary of the birth of the founder of Islam and the Qur’an is celebrated as a public holiday on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, also known as “Milad un Nabi” or “the birthday of the Prophet”. The occasion is referred to as Eid Al Mawlid Al Nabawi in Arabic. The UAE has already declared September 29th, 2023, as a public holiday in honor of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday. It is one of the most important Public Holidays in UAE for 2023. By using the yearly leave reservation from Monday, September 25 to Thursday, September 28 you can extend it into a second full week of vacation. 

UAE National Day: 2nd-3rd of December 

Commemoration Day, formerly Martyrs’ Day, is observed annually on December 1, which falls on a Friday in 2023. After that, the UAE observes National Day, a significant public holiday in the UAE in 2023 that falls on December 2 and 3. On UAE National Day, those of us who like a two-day weekend will get a three-day weekend instead. A second four-day weekend will be available in 2023 for businesses that provide a day off in place of the UAE National Day holiday. It is a day to commemorate the union of the seven emirates, the declaration of the United Arab Emirates, the raising of the current flag of the UAE, and the election of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the country’s first leader.