UAE Eid Al Adha 2025 Holidays: What Employees Need to Know About Leave Rules and Labour Law
The UAE has officially declared a four-day public holiday from June 5 to June 8, 2025, to observe Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha. This announcement applies to both public and private sector employees, with work resuming on Monday, June 9.
Eid Al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is a significant Islamic occasion that marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and honors the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim. The holiday period offers families and communities time for prayer, charity, and celebration. However, it also prompts important legal and employment questions—particularly when public holidays coincide with weekends.
Here’s what you need to know as an employee in the UAE.
UAE Eid Al Adha 2025 Holiday Dates
The UAE Cabinet has confirmed the following official holidays:
Thursday, June 5: Arafat Day
Friday to Sunday, June 6–8: Eid Al Adha
Monday, June 9: Work resumes
These dates are aligned with Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Indonesia. Other countries like India, Pakistan, and Morocco will observe Eid on Saturday, June 7, due to different moon-sighting results.
What If the Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
According to Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law and Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, if a public holiday coincides with a weekend or an employee’s weekly day off, no additional day off or carry-forward leave is granted.
Example: If your weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, and Eid includes those days, you still receive only the designated days off—no extra leave.
Compensation for Working on a Public Holiday
If you are required to work during Eid Al Adha, your employer is obligated to offer either:
A compensatory day off, or
Your regular salary plus at least 50% extra pay.
This ensures fair compensation for employees across all sectors.
Public Holidays During Annual Leave
If a public holiday like Eid Al Adha falls during your annual leave, it is counted as part of your annual leave. Employees are not entitled to additional leave days under this scenario, as per the same Article 29 provisions.
What If Eid Falls on Your Weekly Day Off?
UAE labour law ensures every employee has at least one weekly day off. However, if a public holiday happens to coincide with this day off:
No substitute day is provided unless agreed upon between employer and employee.
Any additional leave days are entirely at the employer’s discretion.
Eid and Friday Prayers: What the UAE Fatwa Council Says
This year, Eid Al Adha and Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers fall on the same day—June 6, 2025. The UAE Fatwa Council has clarified:
“Both Eid and Friday prayers will be held separately at their designated times, in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence.”
Eid prayer is typically performed shortly after sunrise, while Jumu’ah follows the standard Friday noon prayer schedule.
What’s the Next UAE Public Holiday?
After Eid Al Adha, the next official holidays in the UAE are:
Islamic New Year (1 Muharram): Thursday, June 26, 2025
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (12 Rabi Al Awwal): Friday, September 5, 2025
UAE National Day: Tuesday–Wednesday, December 2–3, 2025
These dates are tentative and subject to official moon-sighting announcements.
Conclusion
The Eid Al Adha 2025 UAE holidays bring much-needed rest and reflection for employees, but it’s crucial to understand how your leave is calculated—especially if the holiday overlaps with your weekend or you’re working during the break.
Employers and employees are encouraged to clarify entitlements in advance to avoid confusion and ensure compliance with UAE labour law.
