Is July 18 a holiday? UAE gears up for Union Pledge Day 2025
The day marks the signing of UAE’s constitution and naming the nation
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will mark Union Pledge Day for the second time on Friday, July 18, recognising a pivotal moment in the nation's history.
This national occasion commemorates the founding meeting of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, where leaders of the emirates signed the constitution, declared the union, and finalised the country’s name.
The event was first announced in 2024 by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, as a day to reflect on the vision and unity that led to the country’s creation. Although new to the official calendar, Union Pledge Day is seen as a moment of national pride and historical remembrance.
Not a public holiday – yet
Despite its significance, Union Pledge Day is not currently listed as a public holiday under the updated UAE holiday law introduced in early 2025. This means that for most residents, Friday, July 18 is expected to be a regular working day, unless an emirate-specific decision states otherwise.
Under the same federal law, local authorities are permitted to declare additional public holidays. So while there’s no official day off expected across the country, residents in some emirates might still benefit from local announcements. As of now, no such decisions have been publicly confirmed.
Part of four national occasions
Union Pledge Day joins three other official national occasions recognised in the UAE:
- Union Pledge Day – July 18
- Flag Day – November 3
- Commemoration Day – November 30
- National Day (Eid Al Etihad) – December 2
Of these, only Eid Al Etihad and Commemoration Day are confirmed public holidays under federal law. Flag Day and Union Pledge Day are symbolic national occasions but not tied to guaranteed time off unless otherwise declared by individual emirates.