UAE Public Holidays 2023 List : Vacations & Staycations

Have you had a good time on UAE National Day, but are you thinking about the public holidays UAE 2023? Finally! The waiting time is over for the UAE public holidays in 2023. This blog walks you through the list of holidays in the UAE 2023.  So, for whom you are waiting, why don’t you plan a staycation, a trip, or explore Dubai more than ever before?

Public Holidays in UAE 2023

The UAE Cabinet has confirmed the official UAE holidays 2023 for the public and private sectors. Next year, the state’s residents will have long breaks, along with a six-day break. Inhabitants in the UAE will have a four-day vacation from December 1st to December 4th to celebrate National Day. Now, it’s time to start making plans for 2023.

Note: Only after moon sightings, the UAE government confirm all Islamic holidays.

• New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2023, Sunday

While the UAE also observes an Islamic New Year on January 1st along with New Year’s Day. It is a UAE public holidays. However, in the UAE, most of the holidays are based on the Islamic calendar. It is because the majority of UAE citizens are Muslim, while some of the foreign employees and visitors do not belong to the same community. To maintain peace, the UAE celebrates New Year’s Eve.

The events consist of midnight parties, parades, and, most importantly, fireworks exhibits. The occasion is celebrated in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where every part of town is packed with revellers. 

• Eid Al Fitr, April 20th, 2023, Thursday

Ramadan concludes with Eid Al Fitr and this is the first Eid-authorised UAE public holiday. Both private and government workers typically receive two paid holidays. Business owners are likely to manage the work as per the altered hours. There will be huge crowds surrounding the mosques, causing traffic congestion. On Eid Al Fitr, many Emiratis will visit mosques for worship, listen to a sermon called a khutba, and distribute food to the poor. Generally, these prayer meetings are often held in sports stadiums or other massive public community spaces.

Local communities may also organise meals and kid’s activities. Private families may also grasp celebration meals and distribute the food to the poor, and new clothing is commonly worn for these occasions. Many people will also visit friends’ and relatives’ homes, give candy and other gifts to children, and send greeting cards with the words “Eid Mubarak!” written on them.

During the month of Ramadan, it is common practice and religiously significant to give meal presents to the poor. Those who are unable to do so or who wish to be “extremely generous” mostly do so on Eid Al Fitr. Food products including raisins, dates, flour, or wheat are frequently disturbed. Sometimes money equivalent to the value of such a meal is also offered to be donated.  

• Arafat Holidays, 27th June 2023, Tuesday

Arafat Day occurs roughly 70 days after the completion of Ramadan. It is the second day of Hajj for the pilgrims. It also falls under the category of national holidays in the UAE. Folks often take up to a week off from work during this time. Those who are unable to travel on pilgrimage will gather in a mosque, fast, and attend extra prayer sessions at their residence. The journey will be chaotic as hundreds find their way to Mecca. Mecca is Islam’s holiest city in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, many industries will be shut down on this day. 

On Arafat Day, a large number of individuals assemble on Mount Arafat and reside there for the whole night. This is the place, where Muhammad gave his “farewell address” close to the end of his existence. In his sermon, he confirmed that Islam has now been accomplished, and this declaration became a well-known word in the Koran. Pilgrims grasp a careful watch on Mount Arafat, staying awake all night desperately praying, hoping and reading the Koran. Later, they capture the devil metaphorically by throwing rocks at three main pillars, shaving their heads, and making animal sacrifices.

Miscellaneous: 

Muhammad was a person, born in Mecca, around 570 A.D. Several trade routes intersected at Mecca, allowing the Quraish to control trade along the west coast of Arabia, from northern Syria to southern Yemen. After continuing to work as a trader for many years, Khadija, an affluent widow, appointed Muhammad to ensure the safe entry of her camper vans to Syria. Finally, they agreed to marry.

Muhammad started experiencing compelling visions and hearing things around the age of forty. He sometimes would meditate on Mount Hira, near Mecca, in search of clarity. The Archangel Gabriel, god, showed up to him during one of these events and gave him instructions to chant “in the name of your lord.” So, people believe that Muhammad opted to be the messenger of God via prophetic traditions.

• Eid Al Adha, June 28th, 2023

Eid Al Adha is celebrated just after Arafat Day, which marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. This is considered the second Eid public holiday in the UAE and symbolises the feast of sacrifice. Eid Al  Adha typically lasts four days, starting on the tenth day of the Islamic period of Dhul Hijjah. Eid al-Adha honours Ibrahim’s unthinking sacrifice of Ishmael on Mount Moriah in adherence to Allah’s authority. It is believed that the sacrifice will be accepted by Allah by enabling Ishmael to live. The sacrifice is made in the form of an animal. Families and groups buying/cutting meat is a common practice for individuals. Those who are unable to afford to buy a ritual sacrifice animal by themselves. The sacrificed animal’s flesh is customarily split into three parts. The first one is preserved by the family, the second is given to friends and family, and the remaining third is donated to needy people.

• Al Hijri, July 21st, 2023 , Friday 

Al Hijri represents the start of the new Islamic year. The Islamic New Year differs in date from the rest of the calendar. The Islamic calendar is widely used throughout the world. The Islamic New Year begins to move about 11 days ahead annually from the normal calendar. The actual date is never definite because each country makes an announcement of the dates according to the moon sightings. Moreover, it can be anticipated with high accuracy in most cases. As per, UAE holidays 2023, this day falls on Friday, and if you’ve got Saturday off, you might enjoy a three-day vacation.

• Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday, September 29th, 2023, Friday

According to the national holidays in the UAE, the Prophet Mohammad birthday is observed on the 12th of Rabi Al Awwal. The holiday is known as Eid Milad Un Nabi. On this day, there are huge parades and open-air gatherings. Men in such parades mostly wear green attire and carry green flags, whereas young girls wear pink and white dresses. These ceremonies often conclude with the sharing of a meal or cake and are commonly distributed to non-Muslims as well. 

However, there are some other Muslims, who do not believe in public gatherings. They utilise their day by reading the Koran, reciting suras, listening to religious lessons, praying, and reflecting on the lessons to be learned from Muhammad’s life. Moreover, the private celebration takes place in mosques and private houses.

• Commemoration Day, December 2nd 2023, Saturday

On December 1, the UAE holidays 2023 acknowledges Commemoration Day, which is usually observed as a holiday for the country’s employees. This is accompanied by the National Day festivities on the 2nd and 3rd of December. Commemoration Day honours those who have died in civil and humanitarian offerings, but the focus is evidently on military martyrs. On this day, local governments host a variety of religious rituals and events to commemorate Commemoration Day.

• UAE National Day, December 3rd 2023, 

National Day commemorates the UAE’s freedom and successive unification in 1971. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the state’s first chief who led the federalization moves, is also privileged on this day.

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