Some UAE expats combine New Year holiday with annual leave to celebrate Christmas
This year, with the arrival of the holidays, UAE expats are making the most of their annual leave time to take long breaks from work (with the New Year public holiday in between) to celebrate Christmas and spend time with loved ones.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation declared a public holiday on January 1st 2025 for private sector workers, so many can plan their annual leave around this date for extended celebrations.
John Andrew, a senior accountant in the UAE who has been here for seven years, is returning to Australia on December 23 and will come back on January 3. "I always budget my annual leave for this time of year," he said. "I want to be with my family over the holidays. Christmas is a holiday that I love and when I’m away from home, getting to see family and friends is so extra special".
John’s plan to take leave long before he needs it means he can spend as much time as possible with family. He insisted that work should not be separated from his life. "I manage my leave so that I can use the long weekends and public holidays especially around the holidays," he continues.
The other local, David Lee, a U.S.-born foreigner, is on vacation for four days starting on Dec. 24. He does not think we can really celebrate Christmas on one day. ‘There is no better time to be with family, the holidays,’ he told me. ‘I’m going to make the most of it and leave some memories. It’s time to take stock of the year and enjoy the company of my loved ones".
David, who’s a tech employee, knew that many of his peers struggled too to work around family during the holiday season. "Everyone’s busy but I think family parties and festivals are the things that you really need to put more emphasis on," he said. ‘A few extra days off is what makes the holidays different.
Another expat, Maria Gonzalez, a Spaniard, has taken a long vacation, too. She’s going away for 2 weeks to get into the Christmas and New Year mood. "I want to take this time off work-wise," she said. ‘Holidays are a time to relax, to have fun and rejuvenate for the new year’.
Maria’s model is just one of the increasing numbers of expats reevaluating work/life balance during the holiday season. "The UAE is a mashup of cultures and the festive vibe is real," she said. "We might be far away but we still try to re-capture our culture and bring that back with family and friends."
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