Calendar alignment and new holiday law could extend UAE’s National Day celebrations in 2025
The UAE could be set for one of its longest holiday breaks of the year, as a combination of Commemoration Day, National Day, and flexible holiday laws may deliver residents a rare 5-day weekend in December 2025, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Midweek holiday and law changes set the stage for extended break
The UAE will celebrate its 54th National Day on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, marking over half a century since the nation’s unification. By law, December 2 and 3 are official holidays. In 2025, these fall on Tuesday and Wednesday, making it a midweek celebration.
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Commemoration Day, officially on November 30, has in recent years been observed on December 1
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If December 1 (Monday) is declared a public holiday, in addition to or replacing December 3, UAE residents could enjoy a 4-day or even 5-day weekend when combined with the preceding Saturday-Sunday
The flexibility comes from a 2024 amendment to the UAE’s public holiday law, which allows non-Eid holidays to be shifted to the beginning or end of the week to ensure longer breaks. This revision aims to improve work-life balance and avoid ineffective holidays that fall on weekends.
Commemoration Day could unlock the extended holiday
If December 1 is confirmed as a holiday, residents will get three consecutive weekdays off (December 1–3). With the November 29–30 weekend before it, that would total five days. Alternatively, moving the December 3 holiday to December 1 would result in a 4-day break. Local governments also have discretion to extend holidays further, keeping hopes for a longer break alive.
Celebrations to light up the Emirates
National Day, or Eid Al Etihad, commemorates the 1971 federation of the Emirates and is marked with fireworks, parades, cultural shows, and dazzling displays of the UAE flag colors across cities. In 2025, landmark celebrations are expected at Burj Khalifa, Dubai Festival City, and the Abu Dhabi Corniche, alongside traditional dances, poetry, and music that highlight Emirati heritage.
While the Cabinet has yet to make an official announcement, the calendar alignment, revised holiday law, and past precedent strongly suggest the possibility of an extended holiday. UAE residents may want to keep their December schedules flexible — a long winter break could be on the horizon.
