Offices will close for consecutive holidays

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Government offices in the United Arab Emirates will close for national holidays Dec. 1-5, reopening Sunday, Dec. 6.

What does the change mean? Government offices will be closed for the full five days and private offices will be closed Dec. 2-3.

• Implementation time frame: Dec. 1-5.
• Who is affected: All companies and individuals applying for immigration and other government services.
• Impact on processing times: Processing will not be available during the holiday break.
• Next steps: Employers and foreign nationals should aim to file before the holidays to avoid delays.

Background: The UAE observes a Sunday-to-Thursday work week. Martyrs’ Day, memorializing the country’s veterans, will be observed Dec. 1, followed by the Dec. 2-3 observation of National Day, which commemorates independence from Britain and formation of the federation Dec. 2, 1971.

BAL Analysis: Employers should plan ahead for the holiday break and submit time-sensitive filings in the next few weeks and preferably well before the end of the month.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in the United Arab Emirates. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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