Long weekend: Some UAE companies offer up to 2-day break for Christmas
As Christmas approaches, a number of offices across the UAE are granting internal leave on Christmas Day and in some cases Boxing Day, extending the break to all employees. The practice, set through internal company policies rather than official public holidays, reflects changing workplace norms and efforts to align with global calendars while giving staff additional time to rest.For Ellia Mark, who recently joined a new company in Dubai, the policy came as an unexpected benefit while planning his end of year break. He had initially intended to take a full week off to travel home during the holiday season. While reviewing the company’s leave calendar, he discovered that December 25 and 26 were already designated as days off for all staff.With the two dates falling on a Thursday and Friday, the arrangement effectively gives employees a long weekend. “Instead of taking a whole week from my annual leave, now I only have to take four days,” he said, adding that it made travel planning easier during one of the busiest times of the year.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.In the UAE, official public holidays are announced annually and apply to both the public and private sectors, with dates based on either the Gregorian or Islamic calendar, depending on the occasion. While Christmas Day is not listed as a federal public holiday, companies are permitted to introduce internal leave policies at their discretion.These internal days off do not replace annual leave entitlements and vary widely by sector and employer. However, employees say such policies can ease pressure during a busy travel period and reflect a broader shift toward structured, predictable time off at the end of the year.A similar policy is in place at the company where Yasmin Yasir, a Sudanese British expat in Dubai, works. Employees are given official leave on December 25 and the day after for Boxing day, allowing them to plan ahead without submitting individual requests. She said the approach reflects how workplaces are adapting to the realities of life in the UAE.“I think it’s nice because a lot of people celebrating have established a family here, and this allows them to celebrate together without worrying about getting a leave,” she said.Other companies are offering more flexible arrangements. Sahar Taha, who works for a Dubai based company headquartered in the UAE, said December 25 is granted as official leave, with an additional day off that employees can choose to take at any point between December 15 and January 7. The selected day is coordinated with the line manager to ensure workflow continuity.“The idea is to give people flexibility during a busy period,” she said. “You can choose the extra day based on your plans and workload, as long as it’s discussed and approved in advance.”From a human resources (HR) perspective, internal leave policies during the end of year period are often viewed as a practical planning tool rather than an added benefit. A Dubai based HR consultant said granting fixed days off can be easier for companies than managing a high volume of overlapping annual leave requests in December.“When many employees want time off around the same dates, it becomes more efficient to designate shutdown days instead of assessing individual requests,” the consultant said.They added that predictable leave dates help teams and managers plan workloads more effectively. “Having clarity on which days the office will be closed allows departments to plan deadlines, client communication, and coverage in advance. It reduces last minute approvals and makes coordination easier, especially for teams working across regions.”UAE public holidays 2026: How to maximise annual leave without breaking rulesUAE announces public holiday on Jan 1, remote work on Jan 2UAE public holidays 2026: 6-day break, long weekends, transferable dates explained
As Christmas approaches, a number of offices across the UAE are granting internal leave on Christmas Day and in some cases Boxing Day, extending the break to all employees. The practice, set through internal company policies rather than official public holidays, reflects changing workplace norms and efforts to align with global calendars while giving staff additional time to rest.
For Ellia Mark, who recently joined a new company in Dubai, the policy came as an unexpected benefit while planning his end of year break. He had initially intended to take a full week off to travel home during the holiday season. While reviewing the company’s leave calendar, he discovered that December 25 and 26 were already designated as days off for all staff.
With the two dates falling on a Thursday and Friday, the arrangement effectively gives employees a long weekend. “Instead of taking a whole week from my annual leave, now I only have to take four days,” he said, adding that it made travel planning easier during one of the busiest times of the year.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
In the UAE, official public holidays are announced annually and apply to both the public and private sectors, with dates based on either the Gregorian or Islamic calendar, depending on the occasion. While Christmas Day is not listed as a federal public holiday, companies are permitted to introduce internal leave policies at their discretion.
These internal days off do not replace annual leave entitlements and vary widely by sector and employer. However, employees say such policies can ease pressure during a busy travel period and reflect a broader shift toward structured, predictable time off at the end of the year.
A similar policy is in place at the company where Yasmin Yasir, a Sudanese British expat in Dubai, works. Employees are given official leave on December 25 and the day after for Boxing day, allowing them to plan ahead without submitting individual requests. She said the approach reflects how workplaces are adapting to the realities of life in the UAE.
“I think it’s nice because a lot of people celebrating have established a family here, and this allows them to celebrate together without worrying about getting a leave,” she said.
Other companies are offering more flexible arrangements. Sahar Taha, who works for a Dubai based company headquartered in the UAE, said December 25 is granted as official leave, with an additional day off that employees can choose to take at any point between December 15 and January 7. The selected day is coordinated with the line manager to ensure workflow continuity.
“The idea is to give people flexibility during a busy period,” she said. “You can choose the extra day based on your plans and workload, as long as it’s discussed and approved in advance.”
From a human resources (HR) perspective, internal leave policies during the end of year period are often viewed as a practical planning tool rather than an added benefit. A Dubai based HR consultant said granting fixed days off can be easier for companies than managing a high volume of overlapping annual leave requests in December.
“When many employees want time off around the same dates, it becomes more efficient to designate shutdown days instead of assessing individual requests,” the consultant said.
They added that predictable leave dates help teams and managers plan workloads more effectively. “Having clarity on which days the office will be closed allows departments to plan deadlines, client communication, and coverage in advance. It reduces last minute approvals and makes coordination easier, especially for teams working across regions.”
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