UAE public holidays in 2023: When are the 14 holidays?

Thinking about UAE public holidays in 2023?

Why wouldn’t you when there’s the opportunity to plan a staycation, trip away or see more of Abu Dhabi than ever before?

You certainly won’t be alone.

You might also like: When is 2022’s next UAE public holiday?

UAE public holidays in 2023: When do the last public holidays of 2022 fall?

We’ve just had the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday, which fell on Saturday October 8.

It was a public holiday for the private sector in the UAE, while private sector workers had holiday and paid leave for the occasion.

The next two big celebrations are Commemoration Day and UAE National Day.

Commemoration Day is observed on November 30, with the public holiday for the private sector falling on December 1.

The UAE then celebrates National Day, which falls on December 2 and 3.

It means most residents will have a four-day weekend, as the public holidays coincide with a Thursday, Friday and Saturday – followed by the usual day off given on Sundays.

There will be no more public holidays in 2022 after that weekend.

So that means it’s all about planning for UAE public holidays in 2023, right?

UAE public holidays in 2023: When are they?

Dubai residents will have 14 public holidays in 2023

The first public holiday of 2023 comes straight away, on New Year’s Day.

This year, it falls on a Sunday.

There will be a further 13 public holidays after this.

The first of which will be for Eid al-Fitr, expected to fall on April 20, 21, 22 and 23.

It marks the beginning of the Islamic month Shawwal and the first day after the month-long fasting and prayer during Ramadan.

The days concerned are Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Saturday – meaning a four-day weekend could be in store.

Next in line comes Arafat Day, the second day of the week-long Hajj pilgrimage, set to take place on June 27.

Arafat Day is directly followed by Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Known as one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar, it is expected to be celebrated on June 28, 29 and 30.

This means there could be four consecutive public holidays at the end of June: from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30.

It potentially leaves the door open to a seven-day break if you factor in the weekend of July 1-2.

Confirmed dates for both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha will only be announced in Dubai according to relevant moon sightings, but it doesn’t hurt to plan ahead.

July 19 will see a public holiday to mark Islamic New Year, falling on the first day of the month Muharram – the first of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday follows that, with a public holiday on September 27.

And finally, 2023’s public holidays will come to their conclusion in December.

Commemoration Day falls on Friday December 1, followed by National Day on Saturday December 2 and a further holiday for National Day on Sunday December 3.