UAE Public Holidays for 2024

Everyone seeks the new year calendar, and the first thing they do is to see the number of holidays they have. With that holiday’s impact, people start their new year. Moreover, holidays are essential for professionals like HR, managing directors, and higher officials in planning their business workplace efficiency. The regulations of leaves and policies are framed based on the UAE public holidays listed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation in the United Arab Emirates.

List of UAE public holidays

The UAE offers job opportunities to people from around the world. While individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds work in the UAE, the majority of the population is Muslim, and Islam is the official religion. Employers in the United Arab Emirates regulate the work schedule based on public holidays, which are determined using the Hijri calendar. This allows for celebrating important Islamic festivals such as Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj.

The list of Public Holidays in UAE in 2024:

1. New Year (Gregorian January 1, 2024)

According to the Gregorian calendar, the new year (January 1, 2024) was declared a public holiday in the UAE. Employees of both public and private sectors are eligible for this leave. It has been celebrated in all parts of the United Arab Emirates. Massive celebrations include music concerts, lighting, live dance, special dinners, and parties. The fireworks celebration in Bhurj Khalifa is a notable one around the world.

2. Israa & Miaraj Night – 7,8 February 2024.

The day celebrates the journey of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and Heaven. It is celebrated on the 27th day of the Rajab month of the Hijri calendar every year, so the 7th and 8th days of February 2024 are declared public holidays.

3. Eid Al Fitr – 8th to 11th April, 2024.

Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the 29th, the holy month of Ramadan every year. During this month, people follow Islam fast for the whole month. The celebration lasts from the 29th of Ramadan to the 3rd of Shawwal 1443. On this holy occasion, a massive prayer is done jointly on open ground by the people, and food has been given to poor people on account of charity. The employees and students can have a long 4 days leave to celebrate the holy days. Based on the Gregorian calendar, the days fall from April 8 to April 11, 2024. It is declared a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.

4. Arafat Day -June 15, 2024.

Arafat Day is one of the most notable holy occasions in Islam. About 70 days after the day Ramadan is celebrated, Muslims make a pilgrimage every year in the month of Dhul Hijjah to the mountain Arafat. The mountain is located around 20 km from the city of Mecca in the east. In 2024, Arafat Day is expected to be around June 15. It is declared a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates. Thousands of people from across the world participated actively in the pilgrimage.

5. Eid Al Adha – June 16 to 19th, 2024.

Following Arafat Day, the end of the pilgrimage is known as Eid Al Adha; it lasts from June 16 to 19th, 2024. Eid Al Adha day is celebrated, and the sacrifices made by Ibrahim are remembered at the command of Allah. Without a doubt, Ibrahim sacrificed his son to Allah by the command of the Almighty. In recognizing this, animals are sacrificed on the day of Eid Al Adha by Muslims worldwide. The fortunate family that sacrifices animals should divide the meat into 3 equal parts; the family eats one part, and the remaining 2 parts should be given to people experiencing poverty. The public holiday accounts for four days this year, as declared by the UAE government.

6. Islamic New Year – July 7, 2024.

In UAE, people celebrate the Hijri New Year more than the Gregorian New Year. The date of the Hijri New Year changes yearly according to the Gregorian calendar. The Islamic is also known as the Hijri New Year. Based on the Hijri calendar, the Islamic New Year is celebrated. The Hijri calendar is known as the lunar calendar, and it does not correspond with the Gregorian calendar as it is a solar-based calendar.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation considers July 7, 2024, a public holiday in UAE. For religious aspects, the Hijri calendar is considered. The Hijri year has 355 days, 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. The Hijri month has 29 and 30 days, respectively.

7. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – September 15, 2024.

Rabi Al Awwal, Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, is celebrated every year on the 12th. It is generally called “Milad un Nabi.” It is considered a public holiday in the UAE and most other countries where most of the population is Muslim. September 15, 2024, is a public holiday for public and private sector employees.

8. Oman National Day – November 18, 2024.

Oman National Day is celebrated on November 18 yearly to commemorate the Sultans’ victory and the country’s independence from Portugal in 1650.

9. Commemoration Day – December 1, 2024.

Commemoration Day commemorates the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the war for the nation. One notable hero is Emirati martyr Salem Suhail bin Khamis. To remember them, The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the United Emirate of Arab declared December 1 a public holiday every year.

10. UAE National Day – December 2, 2024.

The United Arab National Day has been celebrated since 1968. On December 2, the Arab countries gained independence from British rule and formed the United Arab Emirates. Every December 2, a massive celebration is hosted for Independence Day, including fireworks and cultural and traditional programs. So, every December 2 is considered a public holiday in the UAE.

Who Decides the Public Holidays in the United Arab Emirates?

In all countries, the government decides the public holidays based on the country’s culture and tradition. Considering the religion of the majority of the people of a nation, the public holidays and other activities of a country are declared for every new year. In addition, the local government authorities declare the local holidays, considering the beliefs and traditions of the local area’s native people.

In the United Arab Emirates, public holidays are declared by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. The holidays they announce apply to the employees of both public and private sectors; all educational institutions and other industries and private organizations are also entitled to have the holidays. Academic institutions are also applicable to the public holidays of the UAE. Suppose daily wage workers or any other minor workers are subjected to work on public holidays. In that case, the employer should provide alternate holidays for them, or they have to pay them for working on public holidays.

Why Do HRs and Organizations Need to Know the Public Holidays List in the UAE?

Knowing holidays is crucial when formulating and planning the year’s activities. Everyone has a plan and thoughts based on the holidays of the year. Apart from employees and students, the Human Resources, managing directors, and other higher authorities of an organization must know the public holidays of the financial and academic year. They are responsible for framing the organization’s policies and leaves and allocating work, events, and meetings based on the UAE public holidays.

Importance of the Hijri Calendar in Determining Public Holidays in the United Arab Emirates

The Islamic calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, is followed by people of the Islamic faith. Islamic countries celebrate religious festivals and important days based on this calendar. In the United Arab Emirates, public holidays are determined according to the Hijri calendar, as over 90% of the population is Muslim.

They have special prayers every Friday, so Friday and Saturday is the week off for people working in the UAE and students. Work starts on Sundays and Thursdays in the United Arab Emirates. So, the government formulated the public holidays and other official activities of every new year based on the Hijri Calendar. Regarding religious aspects, the Hijri calendar plays a vital role, and for commercial and business purposes, the Gregorian calendar has been considered in the UAE.

Conclusion

getting the new calendar. Holidays are one of the most essential notable things that arise in all age groups entering a new year. Students look for holidays to spend time playing games and other fun activities; adults, working professionals, and employees of public and private sectors are looking for the holidays to plan their vacations, tours, and functions. Human Resources can frame their leave policies and activities based on public holidays. If you are working or living in the UAE, this blog can provide brief details of the public holidays. The public holidays the Ministry of Human Resources declares and Emiratisation is essential if you are studying, working, or running a business in the UAE.

The MHRE of the United Arab Emirates announced the holiday mentioned above for 2024. The people who work or live in the UAE have 14 public holidays. Based on that, the academic and financial calendar was generated. You can plan your vacations, business activities, employee leaves, and policies based on the public holidays for 2024 in the UAE. The fascinating thing about holidays is that people of all ages look for the holiday list while

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Many Public Holidays Will There Be In the UAE in 2024?

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation of the United Arab Emirates, the number of public holidays in 2024 is 14. Public and private sector employees and all educational institutions will be entitled to these holidays.

2. Are Public Holidays Applicable for Private Sector Employees in the UAE?

The United Arab Emirates will have 14 public holidays in 2024. The UAE public holidays are declared by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and apply to all private-sector employees. If daily wage workers come to work on public days, they are given an off on other days.

3. What Is the Difference Between the Hijri and the Gregorian Calendar?

The Gregorian calendar has been used worldwide, while Islamic people use the Hijri calendar to celebrate religious occasions. The Hijri calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, 29 and 30 days per month. The Islamic people use the Hijri calendar for religious occasions and the Gregorian calendar for commercial and agricultural purposes. The Gregorian calendar is solar, while the Hijri calendar is based on the lunar calendar.

4. Which Festival Will Have Long Public Holidays in the UAE in the Year 2024?

The UAE has 14 public holidays, whereas the long holidays are declared for Eid al Fitr and Eid Al Adha as 4 days. The holy occasions are held on April 8 to 11,2024, and June 16 to 19, 2024

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