November 3, 2024
holidays in uae

Holidays in UAE – All You Need To Know

Holidays in UAE; It’s crucial to recognize these major holidays, whether you live in the UAE or are simply visiting, because some establishments may be closed. All public or national holidays are decided by the government. In the United Arab Emirates, there are 14 official public holidays. Eid al-Fitr, which commemorates the conclusion of Ramadan, is one of the most important public holidays. People stay home with their families and celebrate it, eating sweets and delicious foods. It starts the day after the crescent moon is seen, therefore the dates are simply estimating and could vary by a day or two.

This article compiles a list of the UAE’s public holidays, details of important holidays and key dates for your calendar to guarantee you don’t miss anything essential.

List of Observances, Seasons, National Holidays of UAE in 2021

DateNameType  
  
       
1 JanFridayNew Year’s DayNational holiday   
       
       
11 MarThursdayLeilat al-Meiraj (The Prophet’s Ascension)Observance   
20 MarSaturdayMarch EquinoxSeason   
       
13 AprTuesdayRamadan StartObservance   
       
11 MayTuesdayEid al-Fitr HolidayNational holiday   
12 MayWednesdayEid al-Fitr HolidayNational holiday   
13 MayThursdayEid al-Fitr (Tentative Date)National holiday   
14 MayFridayEid al-Fitr HolidayNational holiday   
15 MaySaturdayEid al-Fitr HolidayNational holiday   
       
21 JunMondayJune SolsticeSeason   
       
11 JulSundayHajj season beginsObservance   
19 JulMondayArafat (Hajj) DayNational holiday   
20 JulTuesdayEid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) (Tentative Date)National holiday   
21 JulWednesdayEid al-Adha Holiday (Tentative Date)National holiday   
22 JulThursdayEid al-Adha HolidayNational holiday   
       
12 AugThursdayAl-Hijra (Islamic New Year) (Tentative Date)National holiday   
       
22 SepWednesdaySeptember EquinoxSeason   
       
21 OctThursdayMouloud (Tentative Date)National holiday   
       
       
1 DecWednesdayCommemoration DayNational holiday   
2 DecThursdayNational DayNational holiday   
3 DecFridayNational Day HolidayNational holiday   
21 DecTuesdayDecember SolsticeSeason   
31 DecFridayNew Year’s EveObservance   

Details of 5 Important Holidays of UAE in 2021

1. New Year

Although the first weekend of the year isn’t quite a long weekend, that doesn’t mean we ignore it. January 1st, 2021, occurs on a Friday, thus it won’t be a long weekend unless you work on Fridays. So, while there isn’t a designated holiday, don’t treat it like any other weekend. Plan a brief staycation to kick off the year in style.

2. Eid Al Fitr

Ramadan ends with Eid Al Fitr. In the United Arab Emirates, the three-day commemoration is a public holiday. Eid Al Fir could fall on Thursday, May 13, 2021, according to astronomer projections. If this is the case, residents will have a three-day weekend. The exact dates, however, will be announced a few weeks before the end of Ramadan. The crescent moon marking the month of Shawwal will be seen on May 11, 2021, according to Ebrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences and director of Sharjah Planetarium. However, it will not be accessible until Thursday, May 13th.

3. Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha

Arafat Day is set for July 19, 2021, and Eid Al Dha is set for July 20, 2021. These dates, however, are subject to moon sightings. If forecasts are correct, UAE residents will be able to take a week off from July 19 (Monday) to July 22. (Thursday). With Friday and Saturday as weekend days, most residents may have a 6-day weekend.

4. Hijri New Year

In 2021, Hijri, or the Islamic New Year, is expected to fall on a Tuesday, August 10th. If verified, this may mean a holiday for residents in the middle of the week.

5. Commemoration Day and National Day

Residents of the UAE will have a four-day weekend from December 1 to 3 in 2021 (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) to commemorate Commemoration Day and the 50th UAE National Day. This would result in a four-day weekend, sufficient for a brief staycation or international excursion.