The key facts
- The UAE public sector will be off from December 2 to 4, with the work schedule resuming on December 7
- A three-day holiday has been declared for the 55th National Day — Eid Al Etihad
- The dates were announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
Holiday days for the 55th National Day
UAE authorities have announced a holiday for the 55th National Day, officially known as Eid Al Etihad. Public sector employees are excused from work from Wednesday, December 2, to Friday, December 4. The official work schedule resumes on Monday, December 7, meaning many will get a five-day break. The dates were announced by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
Context of the holiday
Under the unified UAE government calendar, public and private sector workers usually receive the same number of holiday days. The holiday marks the founding of the state in 1971, when six emirates united into a federation; Ras Al Khaimah joined a year later. The unification was led by the country's first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The name Eid Al Etihad emphasizes the theme of 'union' (Etihad means 'union'); the holiday was previously called Union Day. This year's celebrations coincide with the UAE-declared Year of the Family: the theme symbolizes the country as a 'family of families,' uniting people of different origins. Today, representatives of more than 200 nationalities live in the UAE. The traditional centerpiece of the celebrations remains a large ceremony attended by the emirates' rulers; last year it was held at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi before its opening to the public.
