Fancy turning your measly two weeks of annual leave into a whopping 42 days off? Well, buckle up buttercup, because we’re about to show you how to game the system and become the office holiday hero. It’s time to dust off that passport and start planning your great escape from the daily grind!
Make the most of your time in 2025 by strategically combining UAE public holidays with your annual leave. With proper planning, you can stretch your vacations to a luxurious 42 days while using just 14 days of annual leave. Here’s how to do it:
Key UAE Public Holidays in 2025
Here’s an overview of the public holidays you can take advantage of next year:
Holiday
Date
Day
Notes
New Year’s Day
January 1, 2025
Wednesday
Fixed public holiday.
Eid Al Fitr
March 30 – April 3, 2025
Sunday-Thursday
Dates depend on moon sightings.
Arafat Day
June 5, 2025
Thursday
Precedes Eid Al Adha.
Eid Al Adha
June 6 – June 8, 2025
Friday-Sunday
Depends on moon sightings.
Islamic New Year
June 26 or June 27, 2025
Thursday/Friday
Depends on moon sightings.
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
September 5, 2025
Friday
Dates depend on moon sightings.
UAE National Day
December 2-3, 2025
Tuesday-Wednesday
Celebrates the founding of the UAE.
Maximizing Your Leave: A Step-by-Step Guide
Listen up, holiday enthusiasts! We’ve cracked the code to maximising your time off in 2025, and it’s easier than finding a shawarma at 3am in Dubai. Here’s how you can turn 14 days of annual leave into a glorious 42-day holiday extravaganza:
Holiday Period
Annual Leave Used
Total Days Off
New Year’s Day
2
5
Eid Al Fitr
2 or 3
9
Arafat Day & Eid Al Adha
3
9
Islamic New Year
2
5
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
2
5
UAE National Day
3
9
Total
14 Days
42 Days
Here’s how to combine your annual leave with public holidays to extend your time off:
1. New Year’s Break (5 Days Off Using 2 Days of Leave)
Public Holiday: Wednesday, January 1
Take Leave: Thursday, January 2, and Friday, January 3
Total Days Off: 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday).
2. Eid Al Fitr Break (9 Days Off Using 2 or 3 Days of Leave)
Public Holidays: March 30-April 3 (depends on moon sighting).
Take Leave: April 2-4 (if Ramadan is 30 days) or April 3-4 (if Ramadan is 29 days).
Total Days Off: 9 days (Saturday to Sunday).
3. Arafat Day & Eid Al Adha (9 Days Off Using 3 Days of Leave)
Public Holidays: June 5-8
Take Leave: June 2-4 (Monday to Wednesday).
Total Days Off: 9 days (Saturday to Sunday).
4. Islamic New Year (5 Days Off Using 2 Days of Leave)
Public Holiday: June 26 or June 27
Take Leave: June 27 and June 30 if the holiday falls on June 26; June 26 and June 30 if the holiday falls on June 27.
Total Days Off: 5 days (Thursday to Monday).
5. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (5 Days Off Using 2 Days of Leave)
Public Holiday: Friday, September 5
Take Leave: Thursday, September 4, and Monday, September 8.
Total Days Off: 5 days (Thursday to Monday).
6. UAE National Day (9 Days Off Using 3 Days of Leave)
Public Holidays: December 2-3
Take Leave: December 1 (Monday), December 4 (Thursday), and December 5 (Friday).
Total Days Off: 9 days (Saturday to Sunday).
The Ultimate UAE Holiday Hack
Tips for Planning
Book Early: Secure your leave dates as soon as possible to ensure availability.
Stay Flexible: Keep in mind that Islamic holidays depend on moon sightings and may shift slightly.
Communicate with Your Team: Coordinate with colleagues to manage workloads efficiently during your leave.
Now, we’re not saying you should book all these holidays right this second (although, if you do, we promise not to judge). But keeping this cheeky little tactic up your sleeve for when the boss isn’t looking? That’s just smart planning, my friend.
So there you have it – your ticket to becoming the envy of the office and the king (or queen) of the out-of-office email. Just remember to send us a postcard from whatever tropical paradise you end up in, yeah?
