UAE’s New Holiday Law in 2025: Longer Weekends & Quick Getaways

Starting January 1, 2025, the UAE introduced a flexible public holiday system that may grant residents longer weekends when certain holidays fall midweek. This welcome change creates travel opportunities for short trips to nearby countries like Oman, India, Pakistan, and more.

Which Holidays Are Transferable?

The UAE Cabinet now has the authority to shift several holidays to the beginning or end of the week—only if they fall on a weekday and a formal decision is issued. Transferable holidays include:

Greg New Year (January 1)
Hijri New Year
Prophet’s (PBUH) Birthday
Arafat Day
UAE National Day (December 2–3)

However, Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha remain fixed and cannot be shifted, as they are tied to religious observances :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

How Transfers Work in Practice

Transfer requests don’t happen automatically. Each year, the Cabinet decides which holidays will be shifted to create longer weekends. For instance:

If Prophet’s Birthday lands on a Thursday, the Cabinet may move the holiday to Friday to form a 3-day weekend.
In 2025, National Day falls midweek, but it might be adjusted for a longer break :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.

Note: Holidays that overlap or fall on weekends cannot be transferred :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

What This Means for Your Travel Plans

With potential 3–4 day weekends, UAE residents can now explore more on shorter travel breaks. Popular nearby destinations include:

Oman – From rugged mountains to coastal Musandam.
India – Beaches in Goa or cultural tours in Delhi.
Pakistan – Heritage and nature in Lahore or the north.
Saudi Arabia – Explore AlUla or Jeddah’s Red Sea coast.
Iran – A historic getaway to Isfahan or Tehran.

Short flights (2–4 hours) make these destinations perfect for extended weekends.

Planning Tips

Wait for the Cabinet’s annual decision before booking.
Confirm with your employer whether the holiday has been shifted.
Combine holidays with annual leave for extended trips.

With the new 2025 law, the UAE aligns closer to global holiday norms and helps residents make the most of valuable downtime :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

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