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![As 2023 comes to an end, you might already be planning out your breaks and holidays for the coming year. In November this year, the UAE Cabinet approved the official holiday calendar for government and private sectors for the year …](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/As-2023-comes-to-an-end--you-might-already-be-planning-out-your-breaks-and-holidays-for-the-coming-year.-In-November-this-year--the-UAE-Cabinet-approved-the-official-holiday-calendar-for-government-and-private-sectors-for-the-year--_18ca68b699a_original-ratio.JPG)
![… which can help you better plan out the year ahead and know when to expect a public holiday, if you work in the government or private sector in the UAE.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/--which-can-help-you-better-plan-out-the-year-ahead-and-know-when-to-expect-a-public-holiday--if-you-work-in-the-government-or-private-sector-in-the-UAE.-_18ca68bc5f3_original-ratio.JPG)
![January 1 – Monday If you usually enjoy a two-day weekend on Saturday and Sunday, the year will start with the first long weekend as January 1, 2024, falls on a Monday.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/January-1---Monday--If-you-usually-enjoy-a-two-day-weekend-on-Saturday-and-Sunday--the-year-will-start-with-the-first-long-weekend-as-January-1--2024--falls-on-a-Monday._18ca68c1ff0_original-ratio.JPG)
![Eid Al Fitr holidays – Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 The month of Ramadan is expected to start on March 11, 2024, according to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, the Chairman of Emirates Astronomical Society.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/Eid-Al-Fitr-holidays---Ramadan-29-to-Shawwal-3-The-month-of-Ramadan-is-expected-to-start-on-March-11--2024--according-to-Ibrahim-Al-Jarwan--the-Chairman-of-Emirates-Astronomical-Society.-_18ca68c893e_original-ratio.JPG)
![However, the official commencement of the month of Ramadan will only be announced after the sighting of the moon. With Eid Al Fitr falling at the end of Ramadan, which could last for 29 or 30 days, the final dates of the Eid Al Fitr holiday will also be announced only after the sighting of the moon in April.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/However--the-official-commencement-of-the-month-of-Ramadan-will-only-be-announced-after-the-sighting-of-the-moon.-With-Eid-Al-Fitr-falling-at-the-end-of-Ramadan--which-could-last-for-29-or-30-days--the-final-dates-of-the-Eid-Al-Fitr-holiday-will-also-be-announced-only-after-the-sighting-of-the-moon-in-April._18ca68ce8e0_original-ratio.JPG)
![As per the announcement by the UAE Cabinet, the holidays for Eid Al Fitr will extend from the 29th day of Ramadan until the third day of Shawwal, which is the month that follows the month of Ramadan in the Hijri calendar.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/As-per-the-announcement-by-the-UAE-Cabinet--the-holidays-for-Eid-Al-Fitr-will-extend-from-the-29th-day-of-Ramadan-until-the-third-day-of-Shawwal--which-is-the-month-that-follows-the-month-of-Ramadan-in-the-Hijri-calendar._18ca68d59df_original-ratio.JPG)
![If Ramadan is for 29 days, the holidays will be for four days – Ramadan 29, Shawwal 1, Shawwal 2 and Shawwal 3. If the month of Ramadan is for 30 days, then the public holidays will be for five days – Ramadan 29, Ramadan 30, Shawwal 1, Shawwal 2 and Shawwal 3.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/If-Ramadan-is-for-29-days--the-holidays-will-be-for-four-days---Ramadan-29--Shawwal-1--Shawwal-2-and-Shawwal-3.-If-the-month-of-Ramadan-is-for-30-days--then-the-public-holidays-will-be-for-five-days---Ramadan-29--Ramadan-30--Shawwal-1--Shawwal-2-and-Shawwal-3._18ca68e560e_original-ratio.JPG)
As mentioned earlier, the exact dates of the holiday will only be announced after an announcement by the UAE’s moonsighting committee.
![Arafat Day – one-day holiday Arafat Day falls on the ninth day of the month of Dhu Al Hijjah, and the exact date for this holiday will only be announced after the moon is sighted for the month of Dhu Al Hijjah.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/Arafat-Day---one-day-holiday-Arafat-Day-falls-on-the-ninth-day-of-the-month-of-Dhu-Al-Hijjah--and-the-exact-date-for-this-holiday-will-only-be-announced-after-the-moon-is-sighted-for-the-month-of-Dhu-Al-Hijjah._18ca68edb7e_original-ratio.JPG)
![Eid Al Adha – three-day holiday Right after the day of Arafat is Eid Al Adha, for which workers in the public and private sector will get three days off – Dhu Al Hijjah 10 to 12. Coupled with Arafat Day, this would mean four days off during the month of June, when Eid Al Adha is expected to fall.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/Eid-Al-Adha---three-day-holiday-Right-after-the-day-of-Arafat-is-Eid-Al-Adha--for-which-workers-in-the-public-and-private-sector-will-get-three-days-off---Dhu-Al-Hijjah-10-to-12.-Coupled-with-Arafat-Day--this-would-mean-four-days-off-during-the-month-of-June--when-Eid-Al-Adha-is-expected-to-fall._18ca68f4323_original-ratio.JPG)
![Islamic New Year – one-day holiday The Islamic New Year is on Muharram 1 and will give residents a one-day holiday in July. The exact date of the holiday will be announced after the sighting of the moon for the month of Muharram.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/Islamic-New-Year---one-day-holiday-The-Islamic-New-Year-is-on-Muharram-1-and-will-give-residents-a-one-day-holiday-in-July.-The-exact-date-of-the-holiday-will-be-announced-after-the-sighting-of-the-moon-for-the-month-of-Muharram._18ca68fa931_original-ratio.JPG)
![Prophet Mohammed’s [PBUH] birthday – one-day holiday Prophet Mohammed’s [PBUH] birthday falls on the 12th day of the month of Rabi Al Awwal, on which residents can expect a one-day break. This is expected to fall in September; however, the exact date of the holiday will be declared only after an announcement by the moon-sighting committee.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/Prophet-Mohammed-s--PBUH--birthday---one-day-holiday-Prophet-Mohammed-s--PBUH--birthday-falls-on-the-12th-day-of-the-month-of-Rabi-Al-Awwal--on-which-residents-can-expect-a-one-day-break.-This-is-expected-to-fall-in-September--however--the-exact-date-of-the-holiday-will-be-declared-only-after-an-announcement-by-the-moon-sighting-committee._18ca69007cd_original-ratio.JPG)
![UAE Union Day – two-day holiday The last long weekend for the year 2024 will fall on December 2 and December 3, which are going to fall on Monday and Tuesday. So, if you usually have a weekend on Saturday and Sunday, you can expect a four-day-long break.](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2023/12/26/UAE-Union-Day---two-day-holiday-The-last-long-weekend-for-the-year-2024-will-fall-on-December-2-and-December-3--which-are-going-to-fall-on-Monday-and-Tuesday.-So--if-you-usually-have-a-weekend-on-Saturday-and-Sunday--you-can-expect-a-four-day-long-break._18ca694eac5_original-ratio.JPG)
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