For employees in the UAE, strategic planning of annual leave around public holidays can maximize time off while minimizing the number of leave days used. In 2025, with just 19 days of paid leave, you can enjoy up to 49 days off by smartly aligning your vacations with official holidays. Here’s a breakdown of how to make the most of your leave in the UAE.
Understanding UAE Public Holidays in 2025
The UAE has several public holidays throughout the year, including Islamic and national holidays. The key holidays include:
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Eid Al Fitr – Expected April 1-4 (subject to moon sighting)
- Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha – Expected June 6-9
- Islamic New Year – Expected July 27
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – Expected September 26
- Commemoration Day – December 1
- UAE National Day – December 2-3
By strategically planning your leave around these dates, you can create extended vacations without depleting your annual leave balance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Maximizing Leave in 2025
1. New Year’s Break (6 Days Off Using 2 Days Leave)
- Public Holiday: January 1 (Wednesday)
- Take Leave: January 2-3 (Thursday-Friday)
- Weekend: January 4-5 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 6 days (January 1-5)
2. Eid Al Fitr (9 Days Off Using 4 Days Leave)
- Public Holidays: Expected April 1-4 (Tuesday-Friday)
- Take Leave: March 31, April 5 (Monday, Saturday)
- Weekend: March 29-30, April 6 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 9 days (March 29 – April 6)
3. Eid Al Adha (9 Days Off Using 3 Days Leave)
- Public Holidays: Expected June 6-9 (Friday-Monday)
- Take Leave: June 10-11 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
- Weekend: June 7-8, June 14-15 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 9 days (June 6-15)
4. Islamic New Year (5 Days Off Using 1 Day Leave)
- Public Holiday: Expected July 27 (Sunday)
- Take Leave: July 28 (Monday)
- Weekend: July 26-27 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 5 days (July 26-30)
5. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (4 Days Off Using 1 Day Leave)
- Public Holiday: Expected September 26 (Friday)
- Take Leave: September 25 (Thursday)
- Weekend: September 27-28 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 4 days (September 25-28)
6. UAE National Day (8 Days Off Using 3 Days Leave)
- Public Holidays: December 1-3 (Monday-Wednesday)
- Take Leave: December 4-5 (Thursday-Friday)
- Weekend: November 30, December 6-7 (Saturday-Sunday)
- Total Time Off: 8 days (November 30 – December 7)
Final Calculation: 49 Days Off Using Just 19 Days of Leave
By planning your leave around public holidays, you can extend your vacation time significantly while preserving your leave balance. Here’s the breakdown:
- 6 days in January (2 leave days)
- 9 days for Eid Al Fitr (4 leave days)
- 9 days for Eid Al Adha (3 leave days)
- 5 days for Islamic New Year (1 leave day)
- 4 days for Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (1 leave day)
- 8 days for UAE National Day (3 leave days)
Tips for Maximizing Your Leave
- Plan early and get approval in advance to avoid last-minute conflicts.
- Consider long weekends to get more continuous breaks without using extra leave days.
- Be flexible and check moon sighting announcements for Islamic holidays, as dates may shift.
- Combine short leaves with remote work (if applicable) for an even longer break.
With smart planning, you can enjoy extended holidays throughout 2025 while using minimal annual leave—ensuring plenty of time for rest, travel, and family time!
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