The UAE has announced extended National Day 2025 holidays, with private sector employees getting a four-day weekend and students in Sharjah enjoying an even longer break.
The adjustments come under a new public holidays policy implemented earlier this year.
Students in Sharjah will get a five-day holiday, as the emirate continues to observe Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as its official weekend. The longer break aligns with the UAE’s National Day celebrations, now officially known as Eid Al Etihad.
Private sector get 4-day weekend
Earlier on Monday, the UAE government announced a four-day break for private sector employees.
December 1 (Monday) and December 2 (Tuesday) have been declared paid holidays, giving workers a long weekend when combined with the preceding Saturday and Sunday.
New Cabinet resolution
A Cabinet resolution that took effect on January 1, 2025, allows certain public holidays to be shifted to the start or end of the week if they fall midweek.
While an earlier announcement had set Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3 as holidays for Eid Al Etihad, this year the dates were moved to Monday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 2.
The resolution does not apply to Eid holidays, and can only be activated when the Cabinet issues a decision permitting the shift.
The UAE maintains a unified holiday system for both public and private sector employees. Under this policy, all workers receive the same number of public holidays throughout the year, ensuring fairness across sectors.
