August 22, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: As a result of the UAE government’s resolution to recognize certain UAE public holidays transferable, residents and employers were given a wider scope of options to work with. Starting 1 January 2025, fixed-date holidays can be moved to the start or end of the week, depending on a particular Cabinet ruling for that year.
According to Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the celebrations that could be moved in the UAE are January 1, the Gregorian New Year Day; 1 Muharram, the Islamic New Year; 12 Rabi Al Awwal, the Birth of the Prophet; 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, Arafat Day; Dand ecember 2–3, the UAE National Day. At the same time, there are peculiarities, which mean that the two Eids are the only celebrations with unchangeable dates because of their strict observance of religious practices.
What is the principle of the UAE Public Holidays Transferable Rule?
Members of the public should bear in mind that there will be no provisions for the automatic changes of holidays under the UAE public holidays transferable rule. It is the Cabinet’s prerogative to thoroughly examine the calendar of the year with an official decree and then ascertain those particular holidays which can be moved to not only coincide with weekends but also provide longer breaks to residents. Employers and staff members could only become informed of the modification following the year’s official announcement.
Based on the Islamic calendar, picture the birth of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in 2025 falling either on Thursday, September 4, or Friday, September 5. Should the Prophets be born on a Thursday, the Cabinet may choose to shift the vacation to Friday to obtain a three-day weekend. Whereas employees will have an extended weekend as usual without any alterations if it is on Friday. This sort of flexibility is a good example of the UAE public holidays transferable framework being able to enhance the work-life balance in situations where holidays are adjacent to weekends.
Similarly, December 2-3, 2025, is the default date for the UAE National Day on Tuesday and Wednesday. In the case that the Cabinet decides to move these days then a longer weekend will be created. On the other hand, it is first and foremost that a holiday is never changed unless the Cabinet officially decides so, thereby making the annual announcements the backbone of the planning process.
The UAE public holidays transferable policy is closely related to the issue of how shifting days in between the week can cause people to experience interruptions and can also make it difficult for them to properly plan their leisure time especially if they want to travel. Furthermore, it also provides businesses with a better way to oversee their holiday period in terms of productivity.
What Employees and Employers Need to Know?
It is not a good idea for employers to depend just on the UAE public holidays transferable rule and proceed with moving holidays in the absence of an official announcement made by the government. Each year the federal government issues a public holiday calendar that specifies the days that will be changed, if any. Therefore, HR departments should cooperate with the Cabinets yearly resolution to get their leave planning and company notifications done.
Before going on vacation or filing leave that falls on fixed-date holidays, employees should first verify with their HR departments if there have been any changes to the holidays. Even though the UAE public holidays transferable system offers the opportunity to have extended weekends, it also sets the responsibility for the employees to inform their supervisors in good time.
The effect of the new Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 is to repeal the 2019 one and to determine a unified holiday list for the public and private sectors. By utilising the UAE public holidays transferable clause, the government aims to achieve the goal of having a less rigid holiday calendar while still being able to give prominence to the most important Islamic and national events.
Most of the time, moving holidays are regulated through this very rule and it is not allowed for the cases in which holidays overlap or come after weekends. Thus, for example, if a holiday falls on either Friday or Sunday and as a result, there is a weekend break, the Cabinet may decide not to move the holiday further.
According to the financial analysts and tourism experts, the UAE public holidays transferable plan might be the local tourisms best strategy in terms of going-through, if holidays were to be aligned with weekends in a way that would create long weekends, thus boosting the domestic tourism sector and spending. Hospitality, retail, and entertainment are among the several sectors that will benefit from the extending of weekends that will happen in the UAE.
In case the Cabinet makes a public announcement every year, resulting in the UAE public holidays transferable law becoming effective, residents in the UAE will be able to take advantage of the long weekends. Employers need to perform their duties following the schedule of holidays that have been formally agreed upon, whereas employees should keep track of the announcements to get the most out of this flexible system.
Also Read: UAE Public Holiday Law: What it Means for More Long Weekends in 2025
