UAE to get extra public holiday due to new weekend change

Date announced as part of Saturday-Sunday weekend being brought in for 2022

A spectacular fireworks display on the Corniche to mark the UAE's Golden Jubilee year in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Down below was a wonder that seemed to defy the laws of physics: a lake floating on a lake — the man-made stage for the hour-long show. Everyone in the UAE could watch the live show broadcast on all local TV channels, as well as on the National Day’s official website. Victor Besa/TheNational.

The Golden Jubilee show opened with the sound of drums rolling across the waters and reverberating through the peaks. From high in the hills came the sound of the nadba, the ancient cry of greeting of the Shihuh, the tribe whose home is the mountains of the Northern Emirates. Victor Besa/TheNational.

Live screenings were also organised in all seven emirates, in cinemas, cultural spaces, and public places. Victor Besa/TheNational

Broadcast live from Hatta Lake, the 50th National Day Celebration was a fitting extravaganza for a country that often goes above and beyond. Victor Besa/TheNational.

The UAE flag displayed on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh/The National.

Children enjoying the joy rides outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh/The National.

ADNOC lit up with different images of the leaders to mark the year of the Golden Jubilee occasion, in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National

A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument along the Corniche for the 50th National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National

Children waiting for the airshow display along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Proud Emirati children waiving the UAE flag along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Federal Supreme Council meeting, at the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Palace. Photo: Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The Al Fursan Air Display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A spectacular aerial display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Water Feature area at Expo 2020 Dubai during the 50th UAE National Day. Victor Besa/The National.

Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden near Kite Beach. Pawan Singh / The National

A girl and a boy with UAE flag colours at Kite Beach, on Jumeirah Beach Road. Ruel Pableo / The National

Families spend time at Kite Beach on UAE National Day. Ruel Pableo / The National

A flag-carrying family cycle along Kite Beach. Ruel Pableo / The National

Young women on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi fly the country's flag for the 50th National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Emirati families celebrate the UAE's National Day on the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Emirati boys enjoy National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A young man's headgear is straightened for National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Proud siblings wave the national flag on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai prepare to celebrate the UAE's 50th National Day. Victor Besa / The National

Brothers spend the country's anniversary at the world's fair. Victor Besa / The National

Festivities get under way with a colourful parade. Victor Besa / The National

The parade is a sea of colour and sound. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the country had overcome huge challenges over the past 50 years. Victor Besa / The National

Live music adds to the party atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National

(L-R) Anju Jacob, Evelyn and Sebin Dcruz at the flag garden near Dubai's kite beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day. Pawan Singh / The National

Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai on UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National

Young Emiratis in costume for UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National

A photograph is taken to mark the memorable occasion. Victor Besa / The National

Young people enjoy the special events. Victor Besa / The National

A series of events was held to mark National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

This little girl points the way forward. Victor Besa/The National

Servhub treated its employees to a National Day celebration at their accommodation in Jebel Ali. Ruel Pableo for The National

Servhub staff enjoy the occasion. Ruel Pableo for The National

The flag-raising ceremony gets under way. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and commissioner general of Expo 2020 Dubai, speaks after the flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National

An Al Azi performance takes place. Victor Besa / The National

Visitors arrive at the world's fair – with masks on. Victor Besa / The National

People dressed to celebrate the UAE's special day arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

Aircraft fly over The Founder's Memorial – a national tribute to the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed – on the UAE's 50th National Day. Photo: Wam

Sadique Ahamed ran 50 kilometres in Abu Dhabi on National Day to show his appreciation and loyalty to the UAE. Photo: Wam

The UAE has said that January 2 will be an official holiday next year, giving federal employees a three-day weekend to start the new year.

As of January 1, 2022, the weekend will fall on Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday, January 2 an official holiday for government workers.

It was announced as part of the weekend changes being brought in for next year.

Private company employees will also benefit from the long weekend, as long as their employer is also changing to the new work week.

January 1 remains an official holiday for both the private and the government sectors.

The UAE had enjoyed a bumper long weekend for the country's 50th National Day celebrations but before the latest announcement the next public holiday was not to have been for five months.

The next public holiday after January is a five-day break which will mark the end of Ramadan in 2022, most likely to fall on May 1, depending on which night the new crescent moon is sighted.

The decision to adapt the working week "will better align the Emirates with global markets, reflecting the country’s strategic status on the global economic map", the UAE Government Media Office said. The new long weekend will "boost productivity and improve work-life balance", it said.

The country's working week last changed in 2006, when the weekend was moved from Thursday-Friday to the current Friday-Saturday pattern. The move brought the Emirates in line with global markets at a time when the economy was growing rapidly.

The private sector, public and private schools shifted their working pattern on the same day in September 2006.

Between 1971 and 1999, the country had an official six-day working week, with only Friday as a government-mandated day off.

Thursday was added to create a two-day weekend in 1999.