UAE govt announces public holiday for new year celebrations

DUBAI: The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) in the UAE has announced that Wednesday, January 1, 2025, will be a public holiday for government employees to celebrate the New Year.

The FAHR shared the announcement on Twitter, confirming that government offices will resume operations on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

Private Sector Holiday in UAE

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) also declared Wednesday, January 1, 2025, a paid public holiday for all private sector employees. This marks the first public holiday of the new year and aligns with the UAE’s official list of holidays for 2025, released earlier this year.

UAE Public Holidays in 2025

In total, UAE residents can look forward to 13 days of public holidays in 2025.

Changes to Eid Al Fitr Break in UAE

One notable adjustment is a shorter Eid Al Fitr holiday in 2025. Residents will have a break of up to four days, covering the first three days of Shawwal (the month following Ramadan).

• In comparison, the Eid Al Fitr break in 2024 lasted nine days, including weekends.

Rules for Moving Holidays in UAE

• Except for Eid holidays, other public holidays can be shifted to the start or end of the week through a UAE Cabinet decision.
• If a holiday falls on a weekend, it cannot be moved to a weekday.
• Individual Emirates may declare additional holidays as necessary.

This announcement ensures both public and private sector employees can plan for the year ahead while enjoying the first holiday of 2025.