Dubai Public Holidays 2025 – Dubai Travel Planner

Looking to plan your trip to Dubai around Dubai’s public holidays?  Here’s a guide to what to expect in 2025 in Dubai:

• New Year’s Day: 1 January 2025 (1 day)
• Eid Al Fitr: From the last day of the Islamic month of Ramadan to 3 Shawwal* (approx. 31 March to 2 April 2025 –  3 days)
• Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice):  From 9 to 12 Dhu al Hijjah* (approx. 5 June to 8 June 2025 –  4 days)
• Hijri New Year: 1 Muharram*  (Approx. 26 June 2025, date of observation may differ – 1 day)
• The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday: Approx. 10 September 2024 – not always a public holiday
• Commemoration Day: 1 December 2025 (1 day)
• National Day (53rd Anniversary): 2 and 3 December 2025 (2 days)

Jump back to Previous Year: Dubai Public Holidays 2023 ~ Dubai Public Holidays 2024

*Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sightings. The date a religious holiday is observed and the public holiday declared may be two different dates, particularly if it falls on a weekend, Friday- Sunday.

Note that the weekend in the UAE changed from 1 January 2022; government working hours are now Monday through Friday at lunchtime, and the weekend is Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday.

Hijri Calendar to Gregorian Calendar

The Hijri Calendar moves forward by approximately ten days more than the Gregorian Calendar every year. There is a good translation tool here from IslamicFinder.org to understand when important days on the Hijri Calendar will translate to:

Dubai School Holidays 2025

There is both a public (MoE) and private (international) school sector in Dubai, governed by KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority). The dates they have stipulated as holidays in a three-term school year for September starting curriculums are:

• Winter Break 16 December to 5 January 2025 (schools return 6 January 2025)
• Spring Break 24 March to 6 April 2025 (International Schools) 14 April MoE Schools
• Summer Break Not before 27 June 2025 until approximately 25 August 2025*

*The end of summer break is only anticipated until formally announced by the Government.

You can learn more at khda.gov.ae

Other Major Events in Dubai & the UAE 2025

Here’s what’s already lined up for the 2025 Dubai Events Calendar:

• Dubai DutyFree Tennis Championship – February 2025 at the Dubai DutyFree Stadium
• Dubai World Cup – Horse racing season with premier events taking place February – March 2024
• Ramadan – the Holy Month from approx 1 March to 30 March 2025 – note, it’s not a public holiday but a month-long religious observance, concluding with Eid al-Fitr public holidays
• Diwali – 21 October 2025 – with a large Indian expat community, the event is widely celebrated in the UAE
• Christmas – 25 December 2025 – not a public holiday but widely observed within the retail and hospitality sector
• New Year’s Eve – 31 December 2025 always a spectacular night of fireworks and festivities not to be missed