When public holidays fall on weekends, many people in the UAE can now expect extra days off. Here’s what that means for your calendar, your leave, and even your next mini getaway.

Dubai and the rest of the UAE have improved work-life balance significantly. Earlier this year, a new law, Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, concerning public holidays in the state took effect. This law allows many public holidays that fall on a weekend to be moved to a weekday. So, if a holiday falls on Friday or Saturday, you can often still take a day off during the week. This change is a big improvement for planning long weekends and meaningful breaks without reducing your annual leave.

So what remains the same? The UAE’s two major religious holidays, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, are still set and won’t change if they fall on a weekend. Additionally, if a holiday overlaps with another or coincides with a weekend, it won’t be transferable. However, for important celebrations like New Year’s Day, National Day, the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday, and Islamic New Year, the rule allows some flexibility when the dates are inconvenient.