It’s official.
The UAE has declared Monday, June 15, as a public holiday for both public and private sector employees to mark the Islamic New Year.
Federal government entities and private sector workers will have the day off, with work resuming on Tuesday, June 16.
The holiday marks the start of 1448 AH and falls on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar.
Although the date depends on lunar sighting, the day off has been set under the country’s holiday transfer rule, which allows midweek public holidays to be moved to the start or end of the week.
For residents observing a Saturday–Sunday weekend, this results in a three-day break from Saturday, June 13, to Monday, June 15.
The Islamic New Year is one of several UAE public holidays based on the Hijri calendar and applies across both public and private sectors.
What is Islamic New Year?
The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of the Hijri calendar and falls on the first day of Muharram. It is also known as Hijra or Al Hijri and is observed as a public holiday, often marked with fireworks, dining offers, and other celebrations.
What other UAE public holidays are coming up in 2026?
The Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (PBUH) is expected to follow the Islamic New Year, with the holiday currently predicted to fall on Tuesday, August 25, and potentially shifting a day earlier this year.
The final UAE public holiday of the year will be National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, which falls on Wednesday, December 2, and Thursday, December 3. Unlike Islamic holidays, National Day is not tied to the Hijri calendar, though it may still be subject to holiday transfer rules depending on official announcements.
The Gregorian New Year is also observed as a public holiday in the UAE and will be the first holiday of 2027.
