UAE Declares Three-Day Public Sector Holiday for National Day

The UAE government has announced a three-day paid holiday for public sector employees in celebration of the country's 55th National Day. The break will take place from December 2 to December 4, covering Wednesday through Friday.

Following the holiday, ministries and federal entities will resume normal operations on Monday, December 7. For employees who have weekends off on Saturday and Sunday, this arrangement effectively creates a five-day break.

Traditionally, the Eid Al Etihad holidays fall on December 2 and 3. This year, the government has added December 4 as an official holiday, allowing employees to enjoy an extended break without needing to use annual leave for that day.

Since a law passed in 2025 allows certain public holidays to be transferred, holidays that fall mid-week can be shifted to the start or end of the week to provide longer continuous breaks. For example, last year’s National Day holidays were initially scheduled for December 2 and 3, which were Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the dates were shifted to December 1 and 2, Monday and Tuesday, resulting in a four-day long weekend for residents.

What this means for you

• Public sector employees will have a three-day paid holiday from December 2 to December 4 for National Day.
• Government offices and ministries will reopen on Monday, December 7.
• Employees do not need to use annual leave to extend the National Day holiday this year.
• The holiday transfer law allows public holidays to be moved to create longer weekends.