New Year will also be a paid holiday.

Emaduddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The UAE Digital Government (UAE DGov) has announced the list of public holidays for 2023 applicable to both public and private sectors as approved by the UAE Cabinet. The UAE DGov explained that the list of public holidays for 2023 includes 13 fully paid leaves as follows: Gregorian New Year on January 1st. Eid Al Fitr, from Ramadan 29th to Shawwal 3rd 1444 AH (4 days). Arafah day and Eid Al Adha, from Dhu al Hijjah 9th to 12th (4 days). Hijri New Year, July 21st 2023.

Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, September 29th 2023. National Day: December 2nd and 3rd (2 days). Islamic holidays will be determined according to moon sighting. Spirit of the Union UAE’s National Day falls on December 2nd and marks the UAE's formal nationalisation and the start of the federal unification of the emirates in 1971, the UAE DGov said, noting that government departments and private establishments will be closed to mark the events on December 2nd and 3rd.

The ‘Spirit of the Union’ is the official theme of the UAE’s National Day celebrations. It is derived from the vision and leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder President of the UAE. The theme is complemented with a logo that has silhouette of the iconic image of the first congregation of the Founding Fathers of the UAE, on December 2nd 1971.