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

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