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What To Know
- The good news for residents and tourists is that January 1 is a public holiday, giving everyone a full day to recover, relax or continue celebrating into the new year.
- Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to arrive on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to mark the end of the year in one of the world’s most famous party destinations.
- New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year in Dubai, with the city preparing for huge celebrations, fireworks, concerts and special events.
New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year in Dubai, with the city preparing for huge celebrations, fireworks, concerts and special events. Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to arrive on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to mark the end of the year in one of the world’s most famous party destinations.
Dubai is known for its dramatic countdown moments, from the Burj Khalifa fireworks to beachfront shows at resorts like Atlantis The Palm. Restaurants are already booking out, hotel rates are climbing, and the city is preparing for major traffic changes ahead of the celebrations. The atmosphere in winter always makes New Year’s Eve feel extra special, especially for tourists coming from colder countries.
But despite the large celebrations, New Year’s Eve is not a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates. Under the UAE Public Holiday law introduced in 2025, each emirate has the option to add its own special holidays. While this technically allows the possibility of New Year’s Eve being declared a holiday, officials consider it unlikely. The day is treated like a regular working day across the country.
The good news for residents and tourists is that January 1 is a public holiday, giving everyone a full day to recover, relax or continue celebrating into the new year. This makes New Year’s Eve one of the more unusual working days in the UAE, as many companies allow staff to leave early due to the scale of celebrations.
In recent years, roads around major landmarks have been closed from the late afternoon to manage crowds. For 2025, road closures and metro schedules have not been announced yet. However, the Roads and Transport Authority usually extends Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram operating hours, while adjusting bus routes to handle crowds heading to fireworks spots.
For updates on public holidays in 2026, officials recommend checking the UAE government announcements closer to the dates.
