In celebration of UAE National Day, public and private sector workers in the UAE are set to enjoy a long weekend. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has announced that public sector employees will be granted leave from Saturday to Monday, spanning from 2 to 4 December, with regular work resuming on Tuesday, 5 December. Additionally, the authority specified that public sector employees have the option of remote work on Friday, 1 December.
Every year, National Day is on 2 December, and since it falls on a Saturday this time, it will be celebrated then. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has also updated its holiday schedule for private sector employees. Initially, private sector workers were getting paid days off on 2 and 3 December to mark the occasion, however, now, the authorities have announced that just like public sector employees, the private sector will also enjoy a long weekend from 2 to 4 December with regular work resuming from 5 December.
In the preceding year, workers in both the private and public sectors enjoyed an additional day off on 1 December to honour Commemoration Day, formerly Martyrs' Day. Coupled with the National Day holidays, individuals experienced a three-day break in 2022. However, the situation is different this year, as Friday, 1 December, is a regular working day.
UAE National Day, also known as UAE Union Day, is celebrated every year on 2 December to commemorate the unification of the Emirates in 1971. The official ceremony for this significant public holiday will take place at Expo City, Dubai.