The key facts
- UAE public sector employees have been given three days off — from December 2 to 4, while the private sector gets two paid days, December 2 and 3
- A public sector employee who takes leave on November 30 and December 1 can rest from November 28 to December 6 — nine days
- A private company employee needs just one day of leave on December 4 to get a break from December 2 to 6
Holidays Announced
The UAE has announced days off in honor of Union Day — Eid Al Etihad, also known as National Day. Employees of government bodies receive a three-day paid break from December 2 to 4, while private sector workers get two paid days, December 2 and 3. This is the last public holiday of the year.
How to Extend the Break
The holidays can be extended by using a minimal number of leave days. A public sector employee only needs to take annual leave on Monday, November 30, and Tuesday, December 1: together with the weekends before and after the holiday, the break will total nine days — from Saturday, November 28, to Sunday, December 6. A private company employee needs just one day of leave on Friday, December 4, to be off from Wednesday, December 2, to Sunday, December 6 — five days.
What the Law Says
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, private sector employees may request leave before or after holidays, but only with the employer's consent: there is no automatic right to choose dates, and the company may schedule leave based on operational needs. Holidays that fall within annual leave are usually counted toward its duration, unless the employment contract or company policy provides more favorable terms. Public sector employees are governed by a separate law — Federal Decree-Law No. 49 of 2022: leave may be taken consecutively or in parts with a supervisor's approval, and holidays and weekends are usually not counted toward leave days. In both sectors, leave dates require approval.
