October 12, 2025 | Dubai: As the year very close to its end, most of us are already daydreaming about one last long week break before 2026 begins. Upcoming Eid Al Etihad public holiday that might just become your perfect chance. With a little brainstorming and some smart use of annual leave, UAE residents can make this into a short official break into a full 9-day holiday, the ideal way to rest, travel, or simply catch up with family.

The Last Big Break of the Year

The UAE Eid Al Etihad is not just any of your national celebration, it’s also a much-awaited break for residents dealing with busy routines. Although the final dates for both private and public sectors are yet to be officialised, it’s expected to fall around Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3.

If you combine all these days with the weekends before and after, you could just unlock a surprisingly long break. Here’s how it’s gonna work out for you, weekends fall on November 29–30 and December 6–7. So, if you take an annual leave on Monday, December 1; Thursday, December 4; and Friday, December 5, you get an amazing deal of 9-day break, from Saturday, November 29 to Sunday, December 7.

That’s more than just one week of full relaxing, going out on vacation or staying in with family and chilling, without using up too many annual leave days.

Turning Just a Few Days into a Mini Vacation

Everyone needs a quick refreshing break before the new year days begins. Whether you’ve been working long hours shift or just balancing family and studies, this Eid Al Etihad public holiday can be the quick recharge for your stressed month that you didn’t know you needed. Imagine starting your long weekend with a cup of karak by the beach, booking a spontaneous flight to Georgia or Oman, or even planning a staycation here in Dubai or Abu Dhabi itself.

And if the UAE government announces Monday, December 1 as part of the official UAE Eid Al Etihad break, you could be looking at an even longer rest possibly a five-day official weekend without taking extra leave at all.

Know How Your Leave Works

Before you rush out to book tickets or hotel stays, it’s very crucial to understand how your company calculates annual leave. Some companies count leave as calendar days, while the others count working days, and this can hamper with how long your holiday actually is.

• Calendar days: Public holidays that fall during your leave are counted as part of your total leave days.

• Working days: Public holidays don’t count as leave days, so your time off becomes even longer.

Knowing this simple difference can help you make the most of your Eid Al Etihad public holiday, especially if you’re short on leave balance at the end of the year.

Simple Tips to Make It Happen

To turn this few day holiday into a legit 9-day break, a little preparation needed might go a long way:

• Plan early: Everyone will want these dates off, so get your leave request now or in as soon as possible.

• Check your annual leave balance: Make sure you still have enough annual leave left to combine with the Eid Al Etihad public holiday.

• Be a little flexible: If your company can’t approve all the days, suggest a slight chances, sometimes even just one or two days off can make a big effects.

• Stay more organised: Use your company’s official system to apply for these leave so there’s no confusion to deal with later.

Why Some Leave Requests Don’t Go Through?

It’s worth remembering that not every leave request gets approved, even around the UAE Eid Al Etihad holidays. Workload, overlapping requests, and company schedules can sometimes make it very difficult. If your role is really required during year-end operations or reporting periods, your employer might need you around now.

That’s why early communication is key. Planning ahead not only helps your manager prepare but also increases your chances of getting those precious days off.

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