Planning your 2024 travels? There are plenty of public holidays to come in the UAE
While we’re coming off the back of the longest break of the year or the Eid Al Fitr break, there’s still plenty left to come for 2024!
Chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the 2024 official holidays calendar for both public and private sectors will certainly go a long way in helping you anticipate and plan your travel dates for the year. Here’s a full list of the public holiday dates in the UAE, get planning!
New Year’s Day
The first public holiday will take place on Monday, 1 January for the new year and the first working day of the year will be Tuesday, 2 January.
Eid Al Fitr
The holy month of Ramadan is expected to commence on Monday, 11 March with Eid Al Fitr running from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 on the Islamic Calendar (Hijri), which is predicted to correspond to Monday, 8 April to Friday, 12 April in the Gregorian calendar.
Arafat Day
Considered by most the holiest day on the calendar Arafat Day will take place approximately 70 days after Eid Al Fitr, and marks the second day of Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). In 2024, Arafat Day falls on Dhu Al-Hijjah 9 which corresponds to 15 June which is a Saturday. According to the latest update from the Emirates Astronomy Society, the Day of Arafat will fall on 16 June. Watch this space!
You might also like: Check out the full list of UAE public holidays in 2025 and get planning
Eid Al Adha
According to tradition, the following day will be Eid Al Adha and it is set to fall on Dhu Al-Hijjah 10 to 12.
Hijri New Year/Islamic New Year
Hijri New Year or Islamic New Year marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year. And in 2024 it is set to fall on Sunday, 7 July. (Muharram 1)
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday
Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawiis is set to fall on Rabi’ Al-Awwal 12, which corresponds to 15 September, which is a Sunday in 2024.
Commemoration Day and UAE National Day
Commemoration Day (previously known as Martyrs’ Day), will also be taking place on a Sunday, 1 December. However, UAE National Day celebrations will fall on 2 and 3 December which is a Monday and Tuesday in 2024. This potentially means a long three-day break from the weekend.
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