The upcoming holiday is among the most significant religious observances for Muslims globally.
Dubai: Wondering when the UAE’s next public holiday will be? It is coming up next month. Public and private sector employees across the UAE will receive an official day off in August to mark the occasion of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH).
The holiday is included in the UAE Cabinet’s resolution on official public holidays.
The next UAE public holiday
The Prophet’s Birthday is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, which corresponds to the 12th of Rabi Al Awwal in the Islamic calendar. As with other Islamic occasions, the exact date will be officially confirmed based on moon sighting.
If the UAE’s public holiday transfer rules are applied, the midweek holiday could be adjusted to provide residents with a longer break. This means that while the occasion is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25, the official public holiday could potentially be observed on Monday, August 24.
However, authorities have not yet announced any official arrangements regarding the holiday date.
The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is among the most significant religious occasions for Muslims worldwide and is traditionally observed through cultural and spiritual gatherings.
More holidays to look forward to
The remainder of 2026 brings a few more opportunities for breaks:
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad) — December 2–3, 2026 (Wednesday and Thursday). With the Friday-Saturday weekend immediately following, employees could enjoy a four-day break.
How to make the most of UAE public holidays
Careful planning of annual leave around public holidays can help maximise the number of days off throughout the year. Employees should pay close attention to midweek holidays where transfer rules may apply, as these can provide opportunities to create longer breaks while using fewer leave days.
Understanding UAE public holiday rules
A few key rules to keep in mind:
- Under Article 2 of the UAE Cabinet resolution, most official holidays — except Eid holidays — may be moved to the beginning or end of the week through a Cabinet decision.
- Under Article 3, if a holiday falls on a weekend or coincides with another public holiday, it is not automatically carried forward.
- Under Article 4, local governments may approve additional holidays for their own departments on special occasions.
