UAE Public Holiday Law 2025 | Explanation for the New Rules
His new regulation ensures that if public holidays fall on weekends, they can be shifted to the start or end of the workweek, allowing employees to enjoy uninterrupted rest days.
For both the public and private sectors, UAE public holidays 2025 promise at least 12 days off, with an additional day depending on the length of Ramadan. These updates mark a significant improvement in how holidays are managed, ensuring that the 2025 UAE public private holidays schedule maximizes downtime for workers.
Curious about how many public holidays in UAE residents can expect? With this new policy, weekends no longer mean losing out on holiday benefits, making 2025 a more balanced and worker-friendly year for everyone.
Key Highlights of the Updated UAE Public Holiday Law 2025
1. Rescheduling of Public Holidays
Public holidays such as Islamic New Year, Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (PBUH), and UAE National Day will now be rescheduled if they coincide with a weekend.
However, holidays like Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha remain fixed, regardless of their placement in the week.
2. Additional Days Off
In 2025, residents can expect at least 12 public holidays, with the potential for one extra day depending on the length of Ramadan (29 or 30 days).
This new flexibility ensures that holidays overlapping with weekends no longer result in missed rest days, providing a more balanced work-life schedule for residents.
You might also like: UAE Public Holidays | Complete List for the Off Days
3. Authority to Shift Holidays
The UAE Cabinet now holds the authority to reschedule public holidays, as detailed in the revised law:
“With the exception of Eid holidays, the Cabinet may — pursuant to a resolution it issues — transfer any of the public holidays referred to in Article (1) of this Resolution to the beginning or end of the week.”
This authority ensures streamlined implementation of the new rules, benefiting both employees and employers alike.
These updates reflect the UAE's commitment to enhancing quality of life and providing practical solutions to maximize the benefit of public holidays.
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Impact of the New Rules on Workers
Enhanced Work-Life Balance
Employees in both the public and private sectors now benefit from more effective time off, as holidays that fall on weekends can be shifted to adjacent workdays. This ensures workers get to enjoy uninterrupted rest periods, promoting a better work-life balance.
Greater Alignment with Global Practices
Since the UAE adopted a Saturday-Sunday weekend in 2022, its calendar has aligned more closely with international standards. The new public holiday law builds on this alignment, making holidays more practical and beneficial for residents and businesses alike.
Unique Holidays by Emirate
The revised law allows individual emirates to create additional holidays specific to their regions. For instance, Dubai may introduce its own celebratory days in the future, providing residents with unique opportunities to commemorate special occasions.
Examples of Past Inconveniences Addressed by the Law
In 2024, Islamic New Year fell on a Sunday, a weekend day for most private-sector employees. Under the previous rules, no extra day off was provided, leaving many workers without the full benefit of the holiday.
With the updated policy, such overlaps will now result in a holiday shift, ensuring that employees receive an additional rest day, making holidays more impactful and meaningful.
This change addresses longstanding frustrations, ensuring a more inclusive and balanced approach to public holidays for all UAE residents.
Labour Law for Working on Public Holidays in the UAE
The UAE Labour Law includes specific provisions for employees who work on public holidays, ensuring their rights and entitlements are protected. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Legal Framework
According to Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law), employees in the private sector are entitled to fully paid leave on official public holidays as declared by the government.
If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to compensation, as outlined in Article 28 of the law.
2. Compensation for Working on Public Holidays
If an employee works on a public holiday, they are entitled to the following:
Additional Pay:
The employer must compensate the employee with 150% of their daily wage for the hours worked on the holiday.
Time Off in Lieu:
Alternatively, the employer can provide the employee with a day off in lieu of the public holiday, in addition to their regular pay.
3. Applicability to Public and Private Sectors
These provisions apply to private sector employees, while public sector employees follow specific rules issued by their respective departments.
The UAE Cabinet determines public holidays applicable to both sectors annually.
4. Employer’s Obligations
Employers must notify employees in advance if they are required to work on a public holiday.
Employers are encouraged to provide adequate rest days or compensation to ensure the well-being of their workforce.
5. Key Points for Employees
Employees cannot be compelled to work on public holidays unless the nature of their work necessitates it (e.g., healthcare, retail, emergency services).
Employees should verify that they receive the correct compensation or alternative rest day as stipulated by law.
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Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for general informational purposes only. The details provided are based on the best information available at the time of publication and may be subject to change without notice due to potential updates in educational policies or scheduling adjustments by the respective authorities. Readers are advised to contact the relevant offices directly for the most accurate and current information.