The UAE is known for its strict work culture, but that doesn’t mean there are public holidays! This article provides a list of 2022 UAE public and private sector holidays.
Below you will find the complete list of 2022 UAE public and private sector holidays:
The United Arab Emirates Public holidays (2022)
- New Year’s Day Sat, 1 Jan 2022
- Eid al-Fitr Eve Likely Mon, 2 May 2022
- Eid al-Fitr Likely 2 – 5 May 2022*
- Day of Arafat Likely 8 – 9 Jul 2022*
- Eid al-Adha Likely 9 – 12 Jul 2022*
- Islamic New Year Likely 29 – 30 Jul 2022*
- Prophet’s Birthday Likely 7 – 8 Oct 2022*
- Commemoration Day Wed, 30 Nov 2022
- National Day Fri, 2 Dec 2022
– May 20th – Ramadan Begins/Ends* (*Ramadan dates vary from year to year based on lunar cycle; this date reflects the approximate start or end
The United Arab Emirates/Public holidays (2022)
New Year’s Day Sat, 1 Jan 2022
The first day of the year is on Saturday, January 1st. The UAE celebrates New Year’s Day by hosting huge outdoor concerts and parties in public spaces.
Eid al-Fitr Likely 2 – 5 May 2022*
Following the traditional Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. It starts in the evening on Monday, May 2nd, and lasts for three days ending on the morning of Wednesday 5th.
Eid Al Fitr has been an important festival celebrated by Muslims throughout many countries since 622 CE when it was first declared by Muhammad as being observed annually after he had received revelations during his last pilgrimage to Mecca at Mount Arafat near ʿArafat’s Station of Abraham where according to both Islam and Christianity prophets’ final earthly sermon took place also known “the Mountain of Mercy”.
Day of Arafat Likely 8 – 9 Jul 2022*
The Muslim Hajj which is also known as the Day of Arafat starts on a day that marks the start and end time for fasting during Ramadan. Dubbed Al-Qiyam al Thani in Arabic it’s expected to fall on 8 – 9 Jul 2022 based on calculations by religious scholars throughout history so far.
The Islamic holy month celebrates aspects like charity, prayer, reflection, and traditional rituals with events such as Tarawih prayers held after Iftar mealtime at night or Tawaqqalah – an early morning call to wake up Muslims who have slept too late from Suhur (pre-fasting) before Fajr Prayer. With these activities taking place within this period they are often referred to collectively
Eid al-Adha Likely 9 – 12 Jul 2022*
Eid al-Adha in the UAE is likely to be on 9 – 12 Jul 2022. The date varies each year, but it falls between July 9 and July 12 according to Islam’s lunar calendar as recognized by Muslims around the world.
Islam is a religion that celebrates fasting and ritualistic sacrifice in order to show gratitude for Allah. One of the most important Islamic celebrations, Eid al-Adha (known as The Festival of Sacrifice), takes place this year on 9 – 12 Jul 2022! These nine days are an opportunity to celebrate with friends and family while giving thanks for all things we have been given by nature or society over the past year. It’s also customary during these nine days not only to refrain from eating meat but doing anything else which might be seen as wasteful – instead of focusing on simple acts like clothing your loved ones in new clothes, reading stories together at night time before bedtime, etc., so it really does feel more like “giving back” rather than celebrating something
Islamic New Year Likely 29 – 30 Jul 2022*
The Islamic New Year in the United Arab Emirates will likely be celebrated on 29th and 30th July 2022.
The religious holidays for Muslims are an important part of their culture, which can also affect how they celebrate other traditions like Christmas or Thanksgiving Day. The Muslim calendar has 12 months that begin when Allah created Earth from nothingness by saying “Be” – it is a lunar year without any leap day so new years may fall at different times throughout each decade because Ramadan always starts near the end of one month to coincide with Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). The celebrations happen during this time period called Eid Al Fitr as well as another holiday is known as Ashura, which marks Muhammad’s victory over his enemy
Prophet’s Birthday Likely 7 – 8 Oct 2022*
In 2022, the world will be celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. The United Arab Emirates is likely to celebrate this holiday on October 7th or 8th according to the lunar calendar. The dates may vary.
Prophet Muhammad was born more than 1,400 years ago in Mecca as a result of an arranged marriage between his mother and father. As he grew up over time, people noticed that he possessed insight into God’s message for humanity which was revealed through revelations from Gabriel (Jibril). These insights are known today as Islam or “submission to Allah.”
Commemoration Day Wed, 30 Nov 2022
The UAE has a private sector commemorative holiday on November 30th, 2022. This day honors the founding of the United Arab Emirates and is designated as an official public holiday in Abu Dhabi by decree number Seven-Eighty Five, promulgated on 29 April 2013. It celebrates unity among all Emiratis regardless of their ethnicity or religious beliefs because it was founded through unification between six emirates that made up what used to be called Trucial Oman before 1971 when they became one country with its own supreme legislative body; national flag (which features seven stars representing each constituent state); federal constitution enshrining equality for men and women; seats reserved under electoral law for noncitizens who hold permanent residency visas so they can participate alongside citizens directly shaping their future
National Day Fri, 2 Dec 2022
The United Arab Emirates celebrates National Day on Friday, 2nd December 2022.
The UAE is a small country in the Middle East that’s about half a decade old as of this article being written (December 2017). It has made great strides and transforming itself into an industrial nation with world-class infrastructure. The Emirati people are proud of their achievements so far but they still have much to achieve for future generations.
Plan Your Joyful Holidays
The UAE has a number of national holidays and religious observances. Make sure to check the 2022 public and private sector holiday calendar before you make any plans! If you live in or will be visiting the United Arab Emirates, it’s important that you know about these days off work so that your travel plans are not disrupted by school closures or government offices closing down. We hope this list of public and private sector holidays is helpful for planning your next visit to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah City.
If you work for a company that observes different days, be sure to find out when your holiday is before scheduling travel plans or deciding on an annual leave date. We hope this article has helped you understand which national holidays we celebrate here in the UAE so you can more easily plan ahead with peace of mind! Whether it’s Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, National Day (2nd December) or any other observance day – make sure to enjoy them responsibly! Happy celebrating and have fun during these special times!
