With year-end schedules slowing down across offices in the UAE, questions around time off during the festive period have resurfaced—particularly whether December 25 qualifies as a public holiday. Under current regulations, it does not.
Christmas Day is not included in the list of official public holidays recognised by the UAE government. This is set out in the Cabinet resolution governing holidays for both public and private sector employees, which took effect on January 1, 2025.
The regulation limits nationwide holidays to designated national and Islamic occasions. These are New Year’s Day, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, the Hijri New Year, the Prophet’s Birthday, and National Day. December 25 does not appear among the approved dates.
While Christmas itself is excluded, the upcoming New Year does bring a statutory break. January 1, 2026, which falls on a Thursday, is a public holiday, and authorities have confirmed that the following Friday will be observed as a remote working day for government entities, extending the weekend for many employees.
Outside the legal framework, Christmas-related time off is often handled internally by organisations. A number of private firms, multinational companies, and educational institutions opt to offer flexible schedules, internal leave, or early office closures on December 25, particularly where international staff make up a large share of the workforce.
