UAE National Day holidays: How to get nine or five-day break around Eid Al Etihad

The UAE has announced holidays for Eid Al Etihad, granting workers in both public and private sectors the opportunity to enjoy a nine or five-day break. Government employees will have a three-day holiday from December 2 to December 4, while private sector workers will receive a two-day paid break on December 2 and 3.

Employees have the option to extend their holidays by using annual leave. Government workers can turn their three-day holiday into a nine-day break by taking leave on November 30 and December 1, along with the surrounding weekends. Similarly, private sector employees can maximize their midweek break by using one annual leave day on December 4, with the official holiday and weekend off, resulting in a five-day break from December 2 to December 6.

To request annual leave to coincide with public holidays, employees must obtain approval from their employer, which is subject to operational requirements. Under a 2021 law, public holidays falling during annual leave are typically included in that leave, unless specified otherwise in the employment contract or company policy. Federal government employees are subject to a separate law, Federal Decree Law No 49 of 2022, which allows for annual leave in consecutive or separate periods, provided managerial approval is granted. Public holidays and weekends are generally not counted towards annual leave calculations.