The Abu Dhabi government announced on 3 January 2017 the list of public holidays planned for the year.
“The following list shows the public holidays in the UAE for the year 2017. The official reference to determine Islamic occasions, such as the beginning of Ramadan or Haj, is the Hijri Calendar. It is based on the phases of the moon. Hence, the exact dates of Islamic events vary from one Gregorian year to another as they depend on the local sightings of the moon,” the announcement reads.
All federal ministries, public departments and institutions will be closed on the following holidays:
| Public holidays in 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasion | Gregorian Year 2017 | Hijri Year 1438 | Holiday Duration |
| New Year | 1 January | 1 | |
| Israa wal Miraj Night* | 24 April | 27 Rajab | 1 |
| Ramadan expected to begin* | 27 May | 1 Ramadan | – |
| Eid Al Fitr* | 25 June | 1 Shawwal | 3 |
| Haj season* | 23 August | 1 Dhu Al-Hijjah | – |
| Arafat Day* | 31 August | 9 Dhu Al-Hijjah | 1 |
| Eid Al Adha* | 1 September | 10 Dhu Al-Hijjah | 3 |
| Hijri New Year’s Day* | 22 September | 1 Muharram 1439 | 1 |
| Commemoration Day | 30 November | 1 | |
| Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday* | 30 November | 12 Rabi’ Al-Awwal | 1 |
| UAE National Day | 2-3 December | 2 | |