UAE public holidays 2020: government and private sector employees given five-day weekend for National Day

Holidays will start Tuesday, December 1 and run until Thursday, December 3

Afra Al Mansoori poses next to a Abu Dhabi’s Police band member during UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan in 2019. Reem Mohammed/The National

Khayyala performance at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan in 2019. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police band at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Khayyala performance at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Spectators take photos of Al Fursan as they perform aerobatics above Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

Ali Al Mansoori performs during National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed / The National

Families attend festivities at Mina Al Arab lagoon walk in Ras Al Khaimah. Ruba Haza / The National

An Emirati man performs tricks on a flyboard at the Sharjah Maritime Museum, as part of National Day festivities. Salam Al Amir / The National

Families attend festivities at Mina Al Arab lagoon walk in Ras Al Khaimah. Ruba Haza / The National

Men on jetskis, flyboards and waterskiing take part in National Day celebrations at Sharjah Maritime Museum. Salam Al Amir / The National

Visitors of Qasr Al Watan watch the Al Fursan airshow along Abu Dhabi corniche. Reem Mohammed / The National

People begin to join a parade along Abu Dhabi Corniche in their decorated cars. Leslie Pableo for The National

Decorated cars begin to join a parade along Abu Dhabi corniche, near the Breakwater. Leslie Pableo for The National

Families attend National Day celebrations along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

Children dress up for National Day celebrations at Abu Dhabi Corniche, Breakwater. Leslie Pableo for The National

Families attend National Day celebrations along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

The Sanchez and Calimag family spend National Day at Al Qudra lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Sanchez and Calimag family spend National Day at Al Qudra lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 2 DECEMBER 2019. Surannya Arun’s husband (in red), at Al Qudra lake with his family on UAE National Day. (Photo: Reem Mohammed/The National) Reporter: Section:

UAE Pajero Club set out to Al Qudra Lake on National Day for a day of camping and celebration. Reem Mohammed / The National

Members of the UAE Pajero Club spend National Day at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

Bashar Saad, right, spends National Day with the UAE Pajero Club at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

The UAE Pajero Club spend National Day at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

Federal government employees and private sector workers across the UAE have been granted a five-day weekend to celebrate National Day and Commemoration Day.

Holidays will start Tuesday, December 1 until Thursday, December 3, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.

Work will resume for most on Sunday, December 6. Those who work Saturdays will resume work on December 5.

Commemoration Day is held in memory of Emiratis who died in the line of duty.

The public holiday, previously known as Martyrs' Day, was initially observed on November 30 but was formally changed last year.

November 30 was chosen as the initial date, when the holiday was first declared in 2015, in honour of the first Emirati killed serving the UAE.

Salem bin Khamis Al Dahmani, a policeman, died on the Tunb Islands when Iran invaded them just before the UAE's federation in 1971.

Immediately after Commemoration Day, the public will have another two days off for National Day, beginning on December 2.

This is the 49th year since the unification of the emirates.

The end of National Day celebrations see out the rest of the year, with the next holiday scheduled for January 1 to mark New Year.