UAE public and private sector holidays unified by Cabinet

The two sectors will now enjoy the same number of days off

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Holidays for the public and private sectos will be unified in the UAE for 2019 and 2020. Reuters

Private sector workers will have the same number of holidays as government employees for the next two years.

The UAE Cabinet issued a decree on Tuesday unifying the number of holiday days between the public and private sector.

Previously, the public sector would enjoy more days off than private company employees.

The Cabinet also announced the public holidays for this year and 2020.

Public and private sector workers will have 14 days off this year.

The Cabinet announced the changes in a tweet, saying the decree aims to achieve balance between the two sectors and support the national economy.

Excluded from the list of holidays is Israa Wa Miraaj and Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, which were previously celebrated as public days off. Also, notably, Commemoration Day has been moved from November 30 to December 1, likely to group it with the National Day holiday.

See a full list of the holidays for 2019 and 2020 here: UAE public holidays for 2019 and 2020 announced by Cabinet