When is the next UAE holiday and will it be a long weekend?

How the moon sighting determines whether it’s a midweek break or long weekend

Last updated:
Zainab Husain, Features Writer
2 MIN READ
Will your next UAE holiday be a one-day break or a long weekend? Find out how the Islamic calendar determines the date.
Will your next UAE holiday be a one-day break or a long weekend? Find out how the Islamic calendar determines the date.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Dubai: Residents across the UAE can expect a public holiday soon to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH), observed annually in the Islamic month of Rabi Al-Awwal.

This occasion is recognised in many Muslim-majority countries and typically brings a one-day break for workers and schools across the country. While the date is based on the lunar calendar and confirmed closer to the time, here’s what we know so far.

Expected date of the holiday in 2025

The Prophet’s birthday is traditionally observed on the 12th day of Rabi Al-Awwal, the third month of the Hijri (Islamic) calendar. In 2025, there are two likely scenarios:

  • If Rabi Al-Awwal begins on Sunday night, August 24, then the holiday is expected to fall on Thursday, September 4, giving residents a mid-week day off.

  • If the month starts on Monday night, August 25, then the 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal would fall on Friday, September 5, resulting in a three-day weekend when combined with Saturday and Sunday.

The exact date will be confirmed by UAE authorities based on official moon sightings.

Can the public holiday be moved?

Under a Cabinet decision, UAE public holidays except for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha can be moved to the beginning or end of the workweek. This means if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government may shift it to Friday or Monday to give residents a longer weekend.

How the Islamic calendar works

The Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, with each month beginning after the sighting of the new moon. Months can be either 29 or 30 days long, and the calendar year is typically 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar. This means Islamic holidays shift earlier each year in the solar calendar.

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