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Can anyone please inform me how many public holidays are in Dubai. I understand it differs from year to year but would really appreciate a rough idea.
Thanks in advance.

The following "fixed" holidays are observed

New Year (Gregorian) - 1 January
National Day - 12 February

and the following "shifting" holidays

Islamic New Year (one day)
The Prophets (PBUH) Birthday (one day)
The Prophets Asension (one day)
Eid Al Adha and Ararat Day (two days plus 1 day)
Eid Al Fitr (two days)
Isra and Mi'ray (one day)

A Muslim calender year is eleven days short of a Gregorian year (365.24 days), thus every year un-fixed holidays move forward by eleven days. This year for instance there will be two Eid Al Adah celebrations, one was on the 10th of Janaury 2006 and the second will fall on (or around) the 31st of December 2006.

I may have forgotten one or two ......
People employed in the public sector (municipality, governement etc.) normally have a longer holiday period extended to them (for the same holiday!) than those employed in the private sector. For example, the public sector can expect to get a 10 day holiday over Eid Al Fitr and the private sector only 3 days. It also depends on your work, the country does not close down because of a holiday; as some "essential services" and parts of the retail sector are still operational.