UAE National Day 2025: Will It Become a Five-Day Weekend?

Every December, UAE comes alive in celebration. But 2025 might bring something special the rare chance of a five-day extended break for National Day. With legal reforms, calendar luck, and holiday shifting flexibility, residents are watching closely. In this article, we’ll break down how (and whether) a five-day weekend could happen, what’s confirmed, and what to expect.

What’s Officially Confirmed

First, the facts we know with confidence:

• December 2, 2025 (Tuesday) and December 3, 2025 (Wednesday) are confirmed as public holidays for UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad).
• The UAE has a Cabinet resolution that allows non-Eid public holidays to be transferred (moved) to the start or end of the week, giving flexibility to create longer continuous breaks.
• This transfer rule does not apply to Eid holidays (i.e. Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha) those remain fixed by law.
• Commemoration Day (also known as Martyrs’ Day) is officially on November 30, but in practice is often observed on December 1 in UAE holiday calendars.

So far, the groundwork is laid for a longer break. The question is how the shifting gets used.

How a Five-Day Weekend Could Happen

Here’s the calendar and logic that could create a five-day stretch:

If Monday, December 1 is also given as a day off (either as an observance of Commemoration Day or by shifting one of the National Day holidays), that yields 5 consecutive days off.

Two main ways that could happen:

1. Add Dec 1 as a public holiday
   • Even though Commemoration Day’s formal date is Nov 30, the government may designate Dec 1 as the observed holiday.
   • That gives the three weekday holidays (Dec 1, 2, 3) plus the weekend before → total 5 days off.
   • Several sources speculate this approach as likely.
2. Shift one of the National Day holidays to Dec 1
   • Since non-Eid holidays can be moved, the Cabinet could shift December 3 to December 1.
   • This avoids adding a new holiday but still aligns to make a longer break: Saturday–Sunday + Monday (shifted) + Tuesday.
   • This yields a four-day weekend (Nov 29 – Dec 2), possibly extended further if Dec 1 is also observed.

Some sources lean toward the more modest four-day weekend as more probable, since adding a full new holiday is a stronger step.

What Sources & Experts Are Saying

• What’s On (UAE media): They explore the possibility of shifting the Dec 3 holiday to Dec 1 under the new law.
• Time Out Dubai: Explains how the public holiday law was updated in 2025 to allow transfer of non-Eid holidays.
• Gulf News: Mentions “potential long weekend” as the government announces grand celebrations.
• Times of India / Times Evoke: Includes details of the shifting law and calendar alignment, speculating on 4–5 day scenarios.
• Bayzat, Driven Properties: List 2025 public holidays and note that Commemoration Day is often observed on Dec 1.
• Official text (Cabinet Resolution): Confirms rule about transferring non-Eid holidays.

So yes the facts are well anchored. But the final decision lies with the Cabinet, so some of this is still speculative (though plausible).

Risks & Why It Might Be Just a 4-Day Weekend

• The Cabinet might only shift a holiday rather than add a brand new one, limiting the break to four days.
• To transfer a holiday, the law states it cannot be moved if it already coincides with another public holiday or falls on a weekend.
• If Dec 1 is already recognized or overlaps with Commemoration Day, the government might decide no further shift is needed.
• No official announcement has confirmed Dec 1 as a holiday yet so until it is, plans remain speculative.

What It Means for You (Residents, Businesses, Travelers)

• Book early: If a five-day weekend is confirmed, flights and hotels will fill up fast, both within UAE and abroad.
• Flexible plans: Keep bookings refundable or adjustable until the official announcement.
• Work leave strategies: Many will try “sandwich leave” applying personal leave around the holiday to maximize time off.
• Local tourism surge: Expect domestic trips, cultural events, and entertainment venues to be busy.
• Community celebrations: More scope for parades, fireworks, and events across all emirates.

What to Do Next

A five-day weekend for UAE National Day 2025 is possible, thanks to calendar alignment and the new transfer law. But a four-day extended weekend (by shifting one of the holidays) is arguably more realistic.