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UAE public holidays: Rabi Al Awwal moon spotted; Prophet's birthday revealed
The UAE government announced last week that Friday, August 28 will be a holiday for public and private sectors this year
- PUBLISHED: Thu 13 Aug 2026, 8:18 PM UPDATED: Fri 14 Aug 2026, 8:24 AM
The crescent moon of the month of Rabi Al Awwal has been spotted in the UAE, marking the end of the Hijri month of Safar and revealing the date of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which is a public holiday in the country.
The sighting of the crescent means that August 14 will be the first day of Rabi Al Awwal, and the prophet's birthday, which falls on Rabi Al Awwal 12, will be on Tuesday, August 25.
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The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is based on lunar sightings, meaning the phases of the moon determine its months. Each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. On the 29th of every month, the moon-sighting committee convenes to observe the crescent and declare the commencement of the next Islamic month.
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Official holiday date in UAE
In the UAE, residents get a one-day holiday to celebrate the occasion.
Even though Rabi Al Awwal 12 will be on a Tuesday, UAE employees will get a three-day weekend thanks to the holiday transfer policy. Except for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha breaks, all other public holidays in the UAE can be moved to the beginning or end of the week if they fall on a weekday, according to a resolution introduced in 2025.
The UAE government announced last week that Friday, August 28, 2026 will be a holiday for public and private sectors this year for the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), making it a three-day weekend for UAE employees who enjoy Saturday and Sunday as official days off every week. Public sector employees in Sharjah already get Fridays off as part of their usual weekends.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) also announced that Friday, August 28, 2026, will be an official holiday for Dubai Government departments, authorities and institutions.
Official working hours will resume on Monday, August 31.
The long weekend will fall during the final days of the school summer break, with the 2026-27 academic year set to begin on Monday, August 31.
