Updated: May 7, 2024

Public and private sector workers will get equal days off in 2019 and 2020…

Mark your calendars, the UAE government has confirmed the full list of UAE public holidays for 2019 and 2020.

In a Tweet announcing the holidays on the UAE government official page it was announced that the UAE cabinet will grant the private and public sector an equal amount of holidays both this and next year.

In previous years, public sector workers have been given additional days off.

According to the Tweet the ‘decree aims at achieving a balance between the two sectors and supporting the national economy’.

The Islamic holidays listed are based on the Hijri calendar, which is a lunar calendar. So, the dates are still subject to local sightings of the moon.

The UAE Cabinet approves public holidays for the public sector for the years 2019-2020, and grants the private sector equal holidays. The decree aims at achieving a balance between the two sectors and supporting the national economy. #UAEGov pic.twitter.com/R2ZAsu4hF4

— UAEGov (@uaegov) March 5, 2019

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

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Although previously the government has given estimated dates for the Islamic holidays, this year it looks like they’re waiting until closer to the time.

UAE National Day – which always falls on December 2, normally means one day off for private sector workers, but according to the Tweet, this year everyone will enjoy two days off to mark the UAE’s 48th birthday on December 2 and 3. December 1 is also a public holiday for Commemoration Day which falls on November 30 (a Saturday), so we’ll get a nice five-day weekend to kickstart December.

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Here’s the full list of UAE public holidays:

January 1: New Year’s Day

Like many countries, New Year’s Day is a public holiday in the UAE, and one of three secular holidays observed in the country. This year, it falls on a Tuesday, so it won’t be a long weekend.

Dependent on moon: Isra’a Wal Mi’raj

This holiday marks the night that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascended to heaven. Isra’a Wal Mi’raj is observed annually on the 27th day of the Islamic month of Rajab, and falls on April 3 in 2019, according to the Hijri calendar. April 3 is a Wednesday, so it is likely that this will be a mid-week day off.

Dependent on moon: Eid Al Fitr

Eid Al Fitr roughly means ‘breaking of the fast’ and is the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. It’s dependent on the sighting of the moon, and automatically begins after the end of Ramadan. We won’t know until closer to the time whether this will fall on Monday June 3 or Tuesday June 4.

Dependent on moon: Arafat Day

This holiday marks the second day of the yearly pilgrimage to Haj, and will likely mean a day off. It falls on a Saturday in 2019.

Dependent on moon: Eid Al Adha

Honouring Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, we typically get three days off for this holiday – so combined with Arafat Day, we’ll likely get Sunday through Tuesday off. This means it could be a five-day weekend in August.

Dependent on moon: Hijri, Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year in 2019  is likely to fall on a Saturday – we get one day off for this holiday so we may not get a long weekend.

Dependent on moon: Milad Un Nabi

This holiday marks Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday, and is celebrated on the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal, which will fall on November 9 in 2019, subject to moon-sighting. This is a Saturday in 2019, which could mean we’re given Sunday off.

November 30 – Commemoration Day

Formerly referred to as Martyr’s Day, this holiday honours the Emiratis who have died while protecting their country. It falls on a Saturday in2 2019, which means it may be combined with National Day.

December 2 – UAE National Day

2019 will mark the UAE’s 48th birthday, celebrating the unification of the seven emirates in 1971. It falls on a Monday this year, and as we had a two-day holiday on Sunday and Monday for the occasion in 2018, it may be that it’s a four-day weekend again in 2019.

We’ll update this page through the year as public holidays are announced, so be sure to bookmark it.

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The post UAE government confirms full list of UAE public holidays for 2019 appeared first on What's On Dubai.