November 23, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: The UAE is preparing for a happy National Day. The Eid Al Etihad holiday will be a relief to several, especially in the government sector. This move has been recently affirmed by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department.
What’s Being Announced?
The circular states that the employees working in the public sector of Dubai will get a holiday on Monday, 1 December and Tuesday, 2 December in honor of Eid Al Etihad, which will be observed on the same day as the 54th anniversary of the UAE. This leaves a lot of workers with a four day vacation alongside the weekend.
The directive however stipulates that agencies, departments and institutions that operate on rotating shifts, directly deliver services to the public or are in charge of public-service establishments are not entitled to the holiday. They will be allowed to keep operating and can change their hours according to their operation requirements.
The set up in the adjacent emirate of Sharjah is a little different: due to its standard Friday Saturday Sunday weekend schedule, the government sector in Sharjah is set to receive a five-day holiday during and around Eid Al Etihad. This long vacation is also applicable to Sharjah schools.
The Ministry of Education has also declared that on the 1st and 2nd December, both the public and the private schools will have holidays and the regular working schedule will commence on Wednesday, 3rd December.
Why the Eid Al Etihad Holiday Matters?
This Eid Al Etihad holiday can be regarded as special due to a variety of reasons:
- It shows the understanding of the UAE that Eid Al Etihad is a national holiday, not only a celebration of the national holiday, but a time to have a national rest.
- To personnel in government, it is actually a welcome respite, in the generally hectic administrative and service industries, four days off will provide them time with family, domestic travel or recreation within the emirates.
- Communicating the business changes in plans, time arrangements, service provision, and staffing, official holiday is a significant planning fact to the business and commuters, as well as service-users.
What to expect when on vacation?
The majority of the functions in Dubai will be closed in the public sector offices on 1 and 2 December due to Eid Al Etihad holiday. Organizations that do not have to be closed down will still be allowed but with shorter or modified working hours.
Those will be the dates when schools will take a break and go back to regular time 3 December and further.
Most occurrences in the private sector can fit this model of the state-sector holiday, but every company can have its own schedule of holidays; employees and customers are expected to confirm with their employer or service provider.
As the Eid Al Etihad holiday coincides with a weekend, over the weekend, the residents and tourists should be ready to have an increased activity: outings, cultural events, local travel, shopping and hospitality places can be busier than usual.
To those travelling or seeking services, it would always be prudent to make advance checks: transport services, appointments and facilities can change schedules to fit the holidays.
With the country close to this period of celebration, the Eid Al Etihad holiday gives an opportunity to community, rest and reflection. It highlights the fact that the UAE is still trying to manage work, national identity and well-being. The days off are a time to communicate with the country soul, whether it is those who live in the country or those who visit the country, because they can participate in the various local events, learn about local life in the emirates or just rest.
Eid Al Etihad holiday is not just a holiday. It is a sign of togetherness, rest and national feast. When the emirates head to the four-day (or five-day in Sharjah) break, most of them will take the opportunity to be reconnected with the family, community and the bigger rhythms of life in the UAE.
