The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has declared official New Year’s Day holidays for both its public and private sectors, ensuring a festive break for workers across the nation. The announcements provide clarity for businesses and employees alike, mirroring similar holiday declarations in the united States and other countries around the globe.
2024 New Year’s Day Holiday
For the private sector, Monday, January 1, 2024, was designated as an official paid holiday. This decision, announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), aligns with the UAE Cabinet’s resolution on approved public holidays. The declaration ensured a consistent holiday for all private sector employees across the UAE. Source
2025 New Year’s Day Holiday
Looking ahead to 2025, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has declared Wednesday, January 1, 2025, as the New Year’s Day holiday for federal government entities. Work will resume on Thursday, January 2, 2025. This decision, announced via a circular, ensures a consistent break for government employees and reflects the UAE’s commitment to providing its workforce with adequate time off during the holiday season.
The FAHR statement concluded with a message of goodwill: “On this occasion, FAHR extended its highest congratulations and blessings to the leadership, government and people of the United Arab emirates, and those residing on its land, asking God Almighty to return this occasion to them with abundant health and well-being.”
The UAE’s consistent approach to providing holidays for both public and private sectors underscores its commitment to employee well-being and a balanced work-life integration, a principle echoed in many U.S. workplace policies.
The UAE has announced a New Year’s Day holiday for both the public and private sectors.
In 2024, Monday, January 1st was a paid holiday for private sector employees. [[2]]
In 2025, Wednesday, January 1st will be a holiday for federal government employees. [[3]]
Work will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.[[3]]
