UAE National Day: Know Your Work Rights

Working on UAE National Day: Compensation Rules

As the United Arab Emirates' national holiday approaches, many are already planning the long weekend, especially this year, when the official days off on December 1st and 2nd fall on Monday and Tuesday, offering a potential four consecutive days off with the weekend break. However, not everyone will enjoy this rest: many private sector employees will still need to work during the holiday. It is important for these employees to be aware of their rights and what compensation they are entitled to at such times.

What Does UAE Labor Law Say?

The UAE Labor Law clearly specifies that employees working on official state holidays are entitled to special compensation. Article 28 of the law, titled "Public Holidays and Requiring Employees to Work on Such Days," outlines the rights of employees:

If an employee is required to work on an official public holiday, the employer must provide either another day off in compensation, or pay at least 50 percent premium in addition to the daily wage, thus totaling 1.5 times the basic daily pay.

Furthermore, the law guarantees that all private sector employees are entitled to at least one paid rest day per week. Public holidays are added to this basic leave allowance.

Everyone Deserves Protection

It is particularly important to mention that the law makes no distinction between senior management, office, contract, or lower-level employees. The legislation applies to everyone working in the private sector. This is especially significant for those working in hospitality, retail, or customer service roles, who are often required to be on duty during holidays.

Why Is This Especially Relevant Now?

The public holidays on December 1 and 2 have been officially approved as paid days off for the private sector by the government. Because they follow the weekend, many expect a four-day break. However, in many sectors, such as retail, hospitality, or healthcare, the holiday period is the busiest, and work cannot be completely halted. In such cases, employers are obligatorily required to provide the compensation entitled for working on holidays.

What Can an Employee Do?

One of the most important pieces of advice for employees: check your pay slip. If you worked on a public holiday, it must be reflected in your remunerations: either as an extra day off or at least 1.5 times the daily wage. If neither appears on the pay slip, a complaint can be filed with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Complaints submitted to MoHRE are examined by the Labor Court, which, according to experience, strictly enforces the stipulations of Article 28. Employees' anonymity is ensured, and such complaints cannot disadvantage the complainant.

Practical Experiences

In practice, however, many workers still are not aware of their rights. Especially those working in fields where it is customary to remain open during holidays — such as shops, hotels, or restaurants — often accept this as “part of the job” and do not seek compensation. This, however, contradicts the spirit of the law, which aims to ensure the well-being of workers.

Many do not even check their pay slips, so extra compensation can easily be overlooked if the employer does not automatically pay it. Lack of information often leads to violations of law.

What Happens if a Holiday Falls Midweek?

A cabinet decree effective from January 1, 2025, allows for certain public holidays to be moved to the beginning or end of the week if they fall midweek. This rule aims to maintain the balance between work and rest days and to make extended weekends more predictable. Accordingly, although originally December 2nd (Tuesday) and December 3rd (Wednesday) were designated as the official Eid Al Etihad public holidays, this year they were shifted to Monday and Tuesday.

Summary: Don't Forego Your Rights

If you have to work on this year's national holiday, remember: your work merits compensation. The law clearly states that a holiday cannot be simply “let go.” Either another day must be provided for rest, or you must be paid 1.5 times your salary for that day.

This is not a request but a legally guaranteed right. If you do not receive the compensation, you can confidently file a complaint. The UAE legal system stands on the side of workers — be it anyone in the private sector.

Therefore, the most important advice: stay informed, check your pay slip, and ask if something is not clear. The holiday is not only about rest but also about respect — and this should be reflected towards workers as well.

(The article is based on the UAE Labor Law.)