Public holidays for 2024 have been announced in the UAE for both public and private sector employees. The decision was taken in the Cabinet earlier this week. The residents of the united arab emirates going to experience a minimum of 13 public holidays in 2024. 

New Year will be the first public holiday in 2024, followed by Eid Al Fitr. The announced holidays are based on the Islamic Calendar. Although the official dates for some of the holidays are yet  to be confirmed. To guide the residents and plan accordingly for 2024 the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) published a Hijri calendar on their website to calculate the dates of the Gregorian calendar.

Each month in the Hijri calendar lasts for 29 to 30 days based on the spotting time of the crescent Moon. The exact dates will be released by the dedicated authorities when the beginning of that occasion is closer.

The UAE employees can avail of these holidays along with their 30 annual leaves. Surveys showed a majority of employees settled in the UAE use their assigned annual leaves to travel back to their native countries. So, the employees can earmark the extended weekends and public holidays that come along for staycations or taking a tour around the world.

A Three-Day Weekend for New Year

Starting with New Year’s Day, the residents will get an extended weekend which falls on a Monday (January 1). It will allow the employees to enjoy a three-day long weekend. Starting from December 30, 2023 till January 1, 2024.

Six-day Break: Eid Al Fitr

This festival in Islam brings the end of Ramadan month, the month of fasting. As specified by the government, Ramadan 23 to Shawwal 3 is going to be an official public holiday. Depending on the duration of the month, whether the days will be 29 or 30, this occasion will bring a minimum holiday of four to five days.

As per the published Hijari calendar on the official Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) website, Ramadan is going to last for 29 days. Based on the number of days, the comparable dates on the Georgian calendar are April 9, Tuesday, till April 12, Friday. In case one has two days weekends, on Saturday and Sunday, the employees can avail this as a six-day holiday break.

Six-day Holiday: Arfah Day, Eid Al Adha

Arafah Day is marked as the holiest day in the Islamic religion. This day has been observed on Dhul Hijjah 9. The Islamic festival, Eid Al Adha will be celebrated after three days of Arafah Day. The corresponding dates on the Georgian Calendar are June 16, Sunday to Wednesday, June 19. Including the weekend of June 15, Saturday, this festival will mark the calendar with five days off.

Islamic New Year: One-day Holiday

The second new year scoring to the Islamic calendar in 2024 can be witnessed somewhere in the month of July. The first day of the Hijri year, Muharram 1 will possibly fall on July 7, Sunday. Hence there will be no long holiday during the Islamic New Year. But for those employees, Sunday is a regular working day will get a paid day off on this occasion.

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (PBUH)

This grand occasion is suspected to be fall on Rabi Al Awwal 12. Although the date on the Gregorian calendar is not yet clear. It will be updated later by the concerned authority.

National Day in the United Arab Emirates

The very last holiday of 2024 is the National Day of the United Arab Emirates. This official holiday is going to be a lengthy one. The holiday will fall on December 2 and December 3. Considering a weekend with Saturday and Sunday this celebration will also be a holiday with four days for the residents and employees in The United Arab Emirates.