A guide to the UAE's public holidays: when is the next long weekend?

People can look forward to another public holiday on July 18 for Arafat day

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  Dignitaries and citizens attend the 45th UAE National Day celebrations held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in 2016. Photo: Crown Prince Court — Abu Dhabi

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  Fireworks at La Mer in Dubai mark the UAE's 48th National Day in 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Visitors flock to Ras Al Khaimah's Eid Al Adha fair at RAK Exhibition Centre in 2019. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Shoppers head to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, on the first day of Eid, in May 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

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  Beachgoers at Kite Beach in Dubai, during the Eid Al Adha public holiday in August 2020. Reem Mohammed / The National

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  Rollerbladers at Masdar Park in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, during the Eid Al Fitr break in May 2020. Victor Besa / The National

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  Festive lights illuminate the Corniche in Abu Dhabi to celebrate Eid Al Adha. Victor Besa / The National

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  Shoppers at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, on the last day of Eid Al Adha, in August 2020. Victor Besa /The National

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  Decorative lights illuminate the Corniche in Abu Dhabi to celebrate Hijri New Year, in August 2020. Victor Besa / The National

As people across the UAE return to work after the long Eid Al Fitr weekend, many are already planning what to do for the next public holiday.

So, when is the next national holiday?

Arafat Day is expected to fall on Sunday, July 18 – meaning another long weekend is due.

This holiday is considered one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar and marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Eid Al Adha

Eid Al Adha falls a day after Arafat, meaning residents in both the public and private sector will probably get an additional three-day break.

This would result in a six-day very long weekend.

Eid Al Adha is expected to fall on the evening of Monday, July 19, until the evening of Thursday, July 22.

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  Retailers are expecting a busy Eid Al Fitr, as shoppers make the most of the holiday. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National

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  A shop worker puts up an Eid Mubarak message on a shop window in Festival City Mall in Dubai.

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  Retailers were leaving nothing to chance when it came to attracting Eid shoppers at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

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  Retailers in the Mall of the Emirates were offering bargains as Eid approached.

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  Decorations on display at Festival City Mall ahead of Eid Al Fitr.

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  Shoppers flock to the Mall of the Emirates ahead of Eid.

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  Preparations are under way for Eid Al Fitr at Festival City Mall.

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  Decorations in Festival City Mall as shoppers and retailers prepare for Eid Al Fitr.

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  Dubai's Festival City Mall was quiet on Monday morning. Retailers are expecting the opposite during Eid Al Fitr.

Al Adha is Arabic for "the sacrifice". The specific sacrifice this holiday is named after is explained in the Quran, which tells of how Prophet Ibrahim dreamt that God asked him to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.

Eid is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate, usually over a meal.

The day begins with early Eid prayers at a mosque and it is customary for a family to have a goat or sheep sacrificed at an abattoir.

Hijri New Year

Less than a month later, on August 12, people can expect another day off for Hijri New Year. The holiday falls on a Thursday, which means another long weekend.

Also referred to as the Islamic New Year, the day marks the beginning of a new lunar year.

Following Hijri New Year, the next public holiday is expected to fall about two months later, on October 21.

Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday

People across the country will get one working day off in October, for Prophet Mohammed's Birthday. It is due to fall on a Thursday. This could mean a three-day weekend.

Commemoration Day and UAE National Day

Commemoration Day is marked on December 1 in memory of Emirati martyrs.

The public holiday, previously known as Martyrs' Day, was initially observed on November 30 but was formally moved to December 1 in 2019.

Commemoration Dayfalls on a Wednesday this year, but will be combined with UAE National Day, which takes place on Thursday, December 2 and Friday, December 3.

With both public holidays put together, people across all seven Emirates will wrap up the end of the year with a four-day weekend.