Which Country Gives The Most Public Holidays In The World And How Does UAE Fare?

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Halfway across the world, a recent political proposal has been making the headlines, after French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on July 15 proposed to cut two public holidays to drive economic growth as part of a plan to overhaul the country's debt-laden finances.

The proposal has stirred outcry in the European Union's second-largest economy, and resurfaced memories of a toppled predecessor, who tried to do something similar and soon found himself out of a job.

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"The entire nation must work more - to produce, to increase overall national activity throughout the year, and to improve France's situation," Bayrou said. "That's why I propose the removal of two public holidays."

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With the latest proposal bringing public holidays in focus, here is an overview of these holidays around the world, starting with the country offering the most to the least off days.

Nepal : Nepal has the highest number of public holidays in the world with 35 days annually.

Other countries with a high number of public holidays include India, Colombia and Philippines , with around 18 public holidays each.

Among European countries, Slovakia has the most public holidays in Europe with 15 days.

United States : While the actual number of holidays varies across its states, the United States recognises 12 federal holidays.

According to data from the European Employment Authority EURES, the Netherlands and Denmark sit at the bottom of the count among European countries with nine days each.

France has 11 nationwide public holidays according to the EURES, which covers data from the European Union as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

England and Canada , with fewer than 10 days a year, are among the countries with the least public holidays.

How does the UAE fare?

Across different nationalities and careers, public holidays ring a familiar bell for all UAE residents, one that comes with the image of outdoor picnics, cruising through wadis, major mall sales, rejuvenating resort trips and mainly, spending time with family and friends while being away from work.

In the UAE, residents enjoy up to 13 days of public holidays every year, which differ on the basis of whether Ramadan last 29 or 30 days , with the government giving a day off on the 30th day of Ramadan. Here are the public holidays for 2025:

Gregorian New Year : 1 January (1 day)

Eid Al-Fitr : From 01 to 03 Shawwal (3 to 4 days)

Arafa Day : 9 Thu Al-Hijjah (1 day)

Eid Al-Adha : From 10 to 12 Thu Al-Hijjah (3 days)

Hijri New Year : 1 Muharram (1 day)

Prophet's Birthday : 12 Rabi' Al Awal (1 day)

National Day : From 2 to 3 December (2 days)

France's proposal

Bayrou, a long-time debt hawk who is fighting for his political survival, made the headline-grabbing proposal on Tuesday, when he outlined a series of deficit-reduction measures worth 43.8 billion euros ($50.88 billion) next year aimed at lowering France's debt.

His idea is not without precedent. In 2003, just months after a heatwave that killed nearly 15,000 people, then-Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin announced a plan to scrap the Pentecost Monday holiday and replace it with a "day of solidarity." Pitched as a form of civic duty to finance aid for the elderly who had been disproportionably affected by the heatwave, employees would work for free while employers would also contribute.

The measure, rolled out in 2005, was a disaster. Some offices and schools shut; others remained open. Some workers got paid; others didn't. Strikes and protests soon followed.

"It has become a social and political mess," newspaper Le Monde wrote in an editorial at the time.

Two weeks later, the day after voters rejected a referendum on the European Union constitution, Raffarin resigned.

Inputs from Reuters

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