In a rare alignment of the Islamic and Gregorian calendars, the United Arab Emirates is expected to observe three Eid holidays in a single year in 2033, potentially offering residents up to 10 days of public holidays.
The unique occurrence is the result of the lunar Hijri calendar, which governs the timing of Islamic events and shifts annually against the solar-based Gregorian calendar. As a result, Eid Al Fitr — which marks the end of Ramadan — and Eid Al Adha — which follows the annual Hajj pilgrimage — do not fall on fixed Gregorian dates.
Three Eids in One Year
According to current predictions, 2033 is set to begin with Eid Al Fitr falling either on Saturday, January 1 or Sunday, January 2, depending on whether the preceding Ramadan month lasts 29 or 30 days. If forecasts hold, the UAE public holiday would then likely extend from Monday, January 3 through Wednesday, January 5.
The second major Islamic holiday, Eid Al Adha, is expected to begin on Thursday, March 9, with the preceding Arafat Day marked on Wednesday, March 8. This would provide a four-day break running through Sunday, March 13, in line with standard UAE public holiday observances.
A third Eid holiday, another instance of Eid Al Fitr, is projected to fall at the end of 2033. Ramadan is expected to conclude on Friday, December 23, with the Eid celebration spanning through Sunday, December 25 — potentially coinciding with Christmas Day.
Policy and Calendar Considerations
The UAE Cabinet has in recent years clarified that religious holidays such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha that fall on weekends are not shifted to weekdays. Therefore, the total number of days off could vary depending on the alignment with the weekend.
It is important to note that the exact timing of Islamic holidays remains subject to official moon sightings and the variable length of Hijri months, which can be either 29 or 30 days. As such, all projected dates for 2033 remain tentative and could change.
Maximizing Leave in the UAE
The UAE’s annual public holiday schedule includes a mix of Islamic and Gregorian-based events. Residents frequently plan their annual leave around holidays like Eid to maximize time off work.
For up-to-date information, residents are encouraged to monitor official announcements and consult resources for public holiday planning.
