Important dates to know.
The UAE is set to observe another public holiday next month under the country’s official holiday calendar.
Residents working in both the public and private sectors are expected to receive a day off in August to mark the occasion of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH), one of the most significant religious occasions for Muslims around the world.
The occasion is observed on the 12th day of the Islamic Hijri month of Rabi’ Al-Awwal and is traditionally marked with religious and cultural activities.
Based on current calendar projections, Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25. However, the official public holiday is likely to be observed on Monday, August 24, subject to confirmation by the UAE authorities following the official moon sighting.
The expected shift of the holiday date is possible because UAE regulations allow most public holidays, except Eid holidays, to be moved to the start or end of the working week. If confirmed, the adjustment would create a three-day long weekend for residents when combined with Dubai’s regular weekend.
Islamic Hijri dates in the UAE’s public holiday calendar are traditionally confirmed through official moon sightings, with the announcement usually made around the start of the month of Rabi’ Al-Awwal.
However, in recent years, public holiday dates for both private and government sectors have sometimes been announced ahead of the official moon sighting confirmation.
Why do UAE public holidays change every year?
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, which is based on the lunar cycle, unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the solar year.
The lunar calendar is used by Muslims worldwide to determine the timing of religious occasions and observances, meaning Islamic holiday dates shift each year compared with the Gregorian calendar.
This fundamental difference between the two calendar systems explains why Islamic occasions move each year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.
The Hijri calendar is approximately 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, causing religious occasions such as Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha to fall on different dates each year.
