visaprocessUAE: UAE National Holidays-2020

Here is a list of public holidays for the year 2020 applicable to both public and private sectors:
-Gregorian New Year: 1 January

-Eid Al Fitr: From last day of the Islamic month of Ramadan to 3 Shawwal* (4 days)

-Arafah day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice): From 9 to 12 Dhu al Hijjah* (4 days)

-Hijri New Year: 1 Muharram*: August 23, 2020

-The Prophet's Mohammed birthday: October 29, 2020

-Commemoration Day: 1 December (previously it was observed on 30 November)

-National Day: 2 and 3 December (2 days).
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January 1 New Year's Day
New Year's Day is fixed on January 1 to celebrate the dawn of the new Gregorian year. The UAE joins the global party with fireworks, parades, and parties. Last year, Burj Khalifa was the centerpiece for one of the greatest firework displays the UAE has ever seen.

Eid Al Fitr
Roughly translated, Eid Al Fitr means 'festival of breaking the fast'. The holiday is a celebration which marks the end of Ramadan. It is a time to show kindness to others and love for Allah.

Eid Al Fitr begins automatically after the last day of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.

The date is subject to moon-sighting and could change.Arafat Day
Arafat Day is the second day of the annual haj (or pilgrimage). The holiday takes place the day before the start of Eid Al Adha. At dawn, Muslim pilgrims make their way from Mina to a nearby hillside called Mount Arafat and a plain called the Plain of Arafat.
The date is subject to moon-sighting and could change.

Eid Al Adha
Eid Al Adha translates to the 'festival of sacrifice'. The holiday honours Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for Allah. Ismail is happy to oblige before Allah sends his angel, Jibra'il, to inform Ibrahim that he has already accepted the sacrifice from his heart.

Goats are sacrificed and divided into three parts: one part for the family, one part for relatives, and one part for the poor. The holiday begins on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijja, the last month of the Hijri calendar.

Usually lasting for three days, it is very likely that workers will celebrate with a long weekend.
The date is subject to moon-sighting and could change.

Al Hijri, Islamic New Year
Al Hijri is the Islamic New Year.

The date is subject to moon-sighting and could change.

Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) Birthday
The birthday of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is celebrated on the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal. In Arabic, the holiday is referred to as Eid Al Mawlid an Nabawi.

The date is subject to moon-sighting and could change.

Commemoration Day
Commemoration Day (sometimes referred to as Martyr's Day) is a new public holiday and is fixed on November 30. The day was declared by His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in 2015 to honour Emiratis who have died for their country.

December 2, UAE National Day
The UAE's National Day is fixed on December 2 each year. Although the UAE or the Trucial States as it was known until 1971, was never part of the British Empire, it was a British Protectorate. The protectorate treaty was withdrawn on December 1 1971, paving the way for the federal unification of the Trucial States.
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah made up the original UAE, with Ras Al Khaimah joining in a year later in 1972.