UAE Announces Paid New Year Holiday for Private Sector Employees
The UAE has declared, a paid public holiday for private sector employees, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE). The decision is in line with a Cabinet-approved list of official holidays for both public and private sector workers.
The federal government has also confirmed that New Year’s Day will be an official paid holiday for public-sector employees across the country.
In addition, Friday, January 2, 2026, will be designated as a remote-work day for federal government staff. This arrangement is intended to support work-life balance by allowing employees to manage professional duties while spending time with their families. However, personnel whose job functions require physical presence must report to their workplaces as usual.
The announcement reinforces the UAE’s ongoing efforts to ensure unified holiday scheduling and provide greater clarity and flexibility for workers in both sectors.
