UAE workers will be able to take 58 days of holiday in 2023 by using just 24 of annual leave if they make the most of booking public holidays.
By booking annual leave strategically, it will be possible to have 58 days off and six full weeks off for just a few days of annual leave.
Every UAE employee is entitled to at least two days of paid leave for each month working in the country. That’s 24 days of paid annual leave. Follow this guide to maximise UAE holiday time.
According to a social media post shared by the UAE Government, the following is the full list of holidays for next year:
- Gregorian New Year: January 1
- Eid Al Fitr: Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3
- Arafah Day: Dhul Hijjah 9
- Eid Al Adha: Dhul Hijjah 10-12
- Hijri New Year: July 21
- Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday: September 29
- National Day: December 2-3
Booking annual leave carefully, and strategically choosing days off around 2023 UAE national holidays, can more than double time off if weekends are taken into account.
See below to calculate how to make the most of the holidays by booking annual leave strategically.
All calculations are based on the assumption of having two full days off for weekends on a Saturday and Sunday in the UAE.
2023 UAE public holiday dates are subject to change and are confirmed by the Government in advance of the date.
Read on to find out how to turn 24 days of annual leave into 58 days out of the office in the UAE in 2023 and six complete weeks of travel. Now all you have to do is pay for it.
January 1
New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday this year. With that falling on a weekend most firms will not offer the holiday and work begins on Monday, January 2.
While you cannot make the most of the public holiday by extending time off, booking annual leave from Monday, January 2 until Thursday, January 5 uses up four days of annual leave and starts your year with six days out of the office.
Eid Al Fitr 2023
In 2023, Ramadan is most likely to fall on March 23, however it is subject to change based on relevant moon sightings, as per predictions made by the International Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences in the UAE.
In such as case, the 30-day fast will end on Friday, April 21, with Eid-al-Fitr falling on the same day.
This would lead to a four-day weekend in the UAE, falling on April 20, 21, 22 and 23.
Plan carefully and you can have a long vacation, with minimal annual leave used up.
Book Monday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 19 off from work to get the longest possible break for the fewest days.
If Eid Al Fitr falls as expected, you will be out of your workplace for nine consecutive days and use only three days of your annual leave allowance.
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha 2023
The next holiday announced by the UAE for 2023 will be Arafat Day. This is the second day of the week-long Hajj pilgrimage and is forecast to take place on the second day of Dhul Hijja.
In 2023 this is expected to be on Tuesday, June 27. It has been announced as a national holiday in the UAE and will be immediately followed by Eid Al Adha.
This will fall between Dhul Hijja 10 and 12, which is expected to correspond to Wednesday, June 28 to Friday, June 30.
If your employer gives each of these days off and the dates fall as expected, then booking Monday, June 26 as a holiday would give maximum returns for the fewest possible days of annual leave entitlement.
One day of annual leave will result in nine consecutive days out of work.
Hijri New Year 2023
Also known as the Islamic New Year, this holiday marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year.
In 2023 the holiday is likely to fall on Friday, July 21.
With this being a national holiday in the UAE it is possible to turn the long weekend into an extended break for just a few days of annual leave.
Book off Monday, July 17 to Thursday, July 20. If you take these days off you will have nine consecutive days out of the work for a mere four days of annual leave.
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday 2023
The UAE has already announced Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday as a holiday in 2023.
It will fall on September 29, a Friday, marking another public holiday.
Turn it into another full week off by using annual leave reservation from Monday, September 25 to Thursday, September 28.
This will give you nine consecutive days out of the office and use up just four days of annual leave.
UAE National Day 2023
In the UAE, Commemoration Day (previously known as Martyrs’ Day), is marked annually on December 1, which is a Friday in 2023.
The following day is UAE National Day, which in 2023 will fall on a Saturday.
For companies offering a day in lieu for the UAE National Day holiday it is possible to take another four-day weekend in 2023.
Savvy holiday booking around this time could give maximum days off in 2023.
Take annual leave days off bookings from Monday, November 27 to Thursday, November 30 and also, Tuesday, December 5 to Friday, December 8.
Assuming Friday December 1 is given as a day off by your employer, and Monday, December 4 is awarded as a day in lieu for the National Day holiday falling on Saturday, December 2 you will have 16 days off and use just eight days of annual leave.
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