UAE public holidays 2020: When is the next day off?

At least three more public holidays are scheduled this year and come just before a weekend

Dignitaries and citizens attend the 45th UAE National Day celebrations held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in 2016. Photo: Crown Prince Court — Abu Dhabi

Fireworks at La Mer in Dubai mark the UAE's 48th National Day in 2019. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors flock to Ras Al Khaimah's Eid Al Adha fair at RAK Exhibition Centre in 2019. Reem Mohammed / The National

Shoppers head to Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, on the first day of Eid, in May 2020. Antonie Robertson / The National

Beachgoers at Kite Beach in Dubai, during the Eid Al Adha public holiday in August 2020. Reem Mohammed / The National

Rollerbladers at Masdar Park in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, during the Eid Al Fitr break in May 2020. Victor Besa / The National

Festive lights illuminate the Corniche in Abu Dhabi to celebrate Eid Al Adha. Victor Besa / The National

Shoppers at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, on the last day of Eid Al Adha, in August 2020. Victor Besa /The National

Decorative lights illuminate the Corniche in Abu Dhabi to celebrate Hijri New Year, in August 2020. Victor Besa / The National

The Prophet Mohammed's birthday will be marked on October 29 this year, giving public sector workers a three-day weekend and beginning a busy series of holidays in the UAE.

Soon after, Emiratis and residents can look forward to another holiday extended weekend from Tuesday, December 1, when Commemoration Day is held to honour citizens who died in the line of duty.

The public holiday, previously known as Martyrs Day, was initially observed on November 30. But the date was formally changed last year.

November 30 was chosen as the initial date, when the holiday was first declared in 2015, in honour of the first Emirati killed serving the UAE. Salem Suhail bin Khamis died at the end of November in 1971, shortly before the UAE’s formation.

Immediately after Commemoration Day, the public will have another two days off for National Day, beginning on December 2.

This year will mark the 49th year since the unification of the emirates.

The end of National Day celebrations see out the rest of the year, with the next holiday scheduled for January 1, 2021, to mark New Year.

Last year, the UAE Cabinet announced that people working in the public and private sectors would be granted the same number of leave days for official holidays.

Prior to that, those employed in the public sector were often entitled to more days off.

The decision was made to encourage Emiratis to move away from government jobs, where the vast majority of citizens work.

Remaining UAE public holidays for 2020