Holidays play a vital role in our routine where each day has its own significance. UAE government introduces holiday list at the starting of every year. The government takes the Hijri calendar into consideration for declaring Islamic holidays like Eid, Ramadan, and Hajj.
People working in the private sector get fewer holidays when compared to people in the public sector.
The holiday list introduced by the UAE government is mentioned below
| Date | Weekday | Holiday name |
| January 01 | Monday | New year’s day |
| April 13 | Friday | Al Isra’a Wal Mi Raj(Ascension Day) |
| May 16 | Wednesday | Beginning of Ramadan |
| June 14/15 | Thursday/Friday | Eid Al Fitr |
| August 20 | Monday | Arafat Day |
| August 21/22 | Tuesday/Wednesday | Eid Al Adha |
| September 11 | Tuesday | Al-Hijra(Islamic New Year) |
| November 19 | Monday | Milad Un Nabi(Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday) |
| November 30 | Friday | Commemoration Day |
| December 2/3 | Sunday/Monday | UAE National Day |
New Year’s Day (January 1)
New Year’s Eve is celebrated with all the fireworks and parties all over UAE. Burj Khalifa stands as the center of attraction during New Year Eve.
Al Isra’a Wal Mi Raj (Ascension Day)(April 13)
This is the day when Allah took Muhammad along with him from Makkah to Jerusalem followed by heading the journey to heaven.
The beginning of Ramadan (May 17)
Ramadan falls after 29th or 30th day of Shaban. Muslims consider this Ramadan month as a month of fasting where they celebrate the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
Eid Al Fitr (June 14)
Eid Al Fitr is the end of Ramadan when Muslims end their fasting done in the month of Ramadan. Eid Al Fitr generally begins at the end of Ramadan, that is the first day of Shawwal. Communal prayers, listening to Khutba and offering food to the poor are a part of Eid Al Fitr.
Arafat Day (August 20)
Arafat Day falls before the beginning of Eid Al Adha. Muslims travel from Mina to hilltop named Arafat nearby in the dawn.
Eid Al Adha (August 21)
Also known as Festival of sacrifice, Eid Al Adha is the second holiday of the two holidays of Muslims which is celebrated on the occasion where Prophet Ibrahim accepts the sacrifice of his son as commanded by Allah before Allah sends an angel to inform that he is happy with the sacrifice that Ibrahim accepted his commands.
Sacrificing goats is the important aspect of this festival where the goat is divided into three parts. First part is distributed among family, the second part is distributed among relatives and friends and the third part is distributed among the poor.
Al Hijri (September 11)
Al Hijri is considered as Islamic New year and in 2018 it commences on September 11th.
Milad Un Nabi (Prophet Mohammed’s birthday) (November 19)
Milad Un Nabi is the birthday of Prophet Mohammed and it is celebrated on 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal.
Commemoration Day (November 30)
Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE declared this day as a holiday in 2015 to honor people who sacrificed their lives for the country.
UAE National Day (December 2)
UAE’s National day is the union of seven emirates and the joining of 7th emirate Ras Al Khaimah in 1972. It is considered as the anniversary of the federal unification of all the 7 emirates in 1971 for forming the present day country under the supervision of Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Entire country celebrates this day in a remarkable way every year.
