UAE public holidays for 2020: when is the next day off?

The next holiday is a mere four weeks away, in 2020

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

Now we are well into the final day of the last public holiday of 2019, you may be wondering, when is my next day off?

The good news is you only have to wait a mere four weeks, because as usual, 2020 will begin with a day off on January 1 to celebrate the start of the new year.

However, after that it will be a little longer, with four, or potentially even five days off, in May to mark Eid Al Fitr, depending on how long the lunar month of Ramadan is. If Ramadan is 30 days long, which some expect it will be, the holiday will be five days, from around Saturday, May 23, to Wednesday, May 27, — giving everyone a six-day weekend. However, if the month is only 29 days-long, the holiday could end on Tuesday, May 26.

Arafat Day, which is expected to fall on July 30, a Thursday, will be the next public holiday, followed by a three-day break for Eid Al Adha, which is estimated to begin on July 31 and last until Sunday, August 2.

After that, Emiratis and residents can expect a long weekend with Sunday, August 23, likely to be a public holiday to celebrate Islamic New Year, followed by a day’s holiday on Thursday, October 29, to mark the Prophet's Birthday.

Finally, there will be a three-day break, starting with a public holiday to mark Commemoration Day on Tuesday, December 1, followed by another two days off from December 2 and 3 to celebrate National Day.

This year, the UAE Cabinet issued a decree unifying the number of holiday days between the public and private sector.

Previously, people employed in the public sector enjoyed more days off than those working for private companies.

The move was part of long-standing efforts to encourage Emiratis to move away from government jobs, where the vast majority of UAE nationals work.