Is Christmas a public holiday in the UAE? No. Christmas Day, December 25, does not appear on the United Arab Emirates’ official public holiday calendar. The UAE’s days off are set by Cabinet resolution and are built primarily around the Islamic (Hijri) calendar — Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, Arafat Day, Islamic New Year, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday — plus the Gregorian New Year’s Day on January 1 and the national holidays in early December (Commemoration Day on December 1 and UAE National Day on December 2–3). If you are scheduling work or travel in the Emirates, do not assume you will get Christmas Day off.
The UAE’s Official Public Holidays in 2026
To put the answer in context, here are the UAE’s confirmed public holidays for 2026: New Year’s Day (January 1); Eid Al Fitr (expected March 20–22, subject to moon sighting); Arafat Day (expected May 26); Eid Al Adha (expected May 27–29); Islamic New Year (expected June 15); the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (expected August 25); Commemoration Day (December 1); and UAE National Day, also called Eid Al Etihad (December 2–3). Notice that December 25 is absent. The lunar-based dates are announced officially closer to the time, since they depend on moon sighting — so treat them as expected rather than guaranteed until confirmed.
This structure surprises some newcomers, because the UAE is famous for its cosmopolitan lifestyle and its enormous expatriate population. But public holidays follow the country’s official calendar, not its demographics.
Why Christmas Isn’t a Day Off
The UAE is an Islamic country, and its public holidays reflect Islamic observances alongside a small number of national and Gregorian-calendar days. Christmas, as a Christian religious festival, has no official standing in that calendar. This is consistent across the Gulf states: public holidays are a matter of state proclamation, and the state calendar simply does not include December 25.
That said, the absence of an official holiday does not mean Christmas goes unnoticed. Far from it — the UAE’s large Christian expatriate community, along with the country’s tourism and retail sectors, makes December one of the most visibly festive months of the year.
How Christmas Is Still Celebrated in the Emirates
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are famous for their Christmas displays: shopping malls put up towering decorated trees, hotels host Christmas brunches and markets, and many churches hold well-attended services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Retailers run seasonal sales, and the festive atmosphere in commercial districts can rival that of many Western cities. For residents who celebrate, the practical workaround is simple — many take a day of annual leave on December 25, which employers in the private sector generally accommodate without difficulty.
Visitors should know that while the celebrations are real, the working rhythm of the country does not pause: government offices, banks, and most businesses operate normally on December 25. If you need consular or administrative services, plan around the official holidays instead.
What This Means for Workers and Visitors
If you work in the UAE, check your company’s leave policy rather than assuming a Christmas break — some multinational employers offer flexible arrangements, but there is no legal entitlement to the day off. If you are visiting as a tourist, December is actually a wonderful time to be in the Emirates: the weather is mild, the festive decorations are spectacular, and you will find Christmas dinners and events everywhere. Just remember that it is a normal working week for the country around you, so book restaurants and events in advance. And as always with holiday planning in the Gulf, keep an eye on official announcements, since the lunar-based public holidays can shift and occasionally create long weekends near year-end.