The UAE has confirmed the start of Rabi Al Awwal 1448 AH after the crescent moon was sighted, making Friday, August 14, 2026, the first day of the Islamic month. This places Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday on Tuesday, August 25, the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal. However, the official UAE public holiday is Friday, August 28, as announced by the UAE Government for public and private-sector employees. For employees who normally have Saturday and Sunday off, the holiday creates a three-day weekend.
- Location: United Arab Emirates
- Organisation: UAE Government
- Rabi Al Awwal begins: Friday, August 14, 2026
- Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
- Official public holiday: Friday, August 28, 2026
- Who is affected: Public and private-sector employees
- Dubai Government: Departments, authorities and institutions will observe August 28 as a holiday
- Normal working hours: Resume Monday, August 31
- Current status: Dates confirmed following the Rabi Al Awwal crescent sighting
The UAE Prophet’s Birthday 2026 date is now confirmed following the sighting of the Rabi Al Awwal crescent. Rabi Al Awwal began on Friday, August 14, meaning the 12th day of the Islamic month, when Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is observed, falls on Tuesday, August 25. The UAE Government has separately announced Friday, August 28, as the official public holiday for public and private-sector employees. The timing gives many UAE residents a three-day weekend from August 28 to August 30.
When does Rabi Al Awwal start in the UAE in 2026?
Rabi Al Awwal 1448 AH began in the UAE on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The International Astronomical Centre reported that the Rabi Al Awwal crescent was photographed at the Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi after sunset on Thursday, August 13. The observation followed the end of Safar and established the start of the new Hijri month.
Rabi Al Awwal is the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, Hijri months are linked to the lunar cycle, so religious occasions move through different dates on the Gregorian calendar each year.
When is Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday in the UAE?
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday falls on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, corresponding to 12 Rabi Al Awwal 1448 AH.
The UAE’s public-holiday framework identifies 12 Rabi Al Awwal as the one-day public holiday for the Prophet’s Birthday. The confirmed start of Rabi Al Awwal on August 14 therefore places the 12th day on August 25.
It is important to distinguish between the religious date and the official day off. August 25 is the date of the occasion in the Hijri calendar, while August 28 is the public holiday announced for employees.
Why is the UAE public holiday on August 28 instead of August 25?
The UAE Government has designated Friday, August 28, 2026, as the official public holiday for Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.
The UAE’s holiday rules allow eligible public holidays to be transferred to the beginning or end of the working week through a Cabinet decision. Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 lists the Prophet’s Birthday as a one-day public holiday and provides the framework for transferring eligible holidays.
The August 28 date was announced by the UAE Government before the Rabi Al Awwal crescent was sighted. The subsequent moon sighting has now confirmed the religious date that the holiday commemorates.
Who gets the August 28 UAE holiday?
The announced August 28 holiday applies to both public and private-sector employees in the UAE.
Dubai Government departments, authorities and institutions will also observe the holiday on Friday, August 28, with official working hours resuming on Monday, August 31.
Employees should still check their individual workplace schedules, particularly those working in sectors that operate throughout public holidays. Airports, hotels, restaurants, healthcare providers, retail outlets and other essential services can continue operating with holiday staffing arrangements.
Will the Prophet’s Birthday holiday create a three-day weekend?
Yes, for employees whose regular weekend is Saturday and Sunday.
The holiday falls on Friday, August 28, followed by Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30. Employees on a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend can therefore enjoy three consecutive days off before returning to work on Monday, August 31.
The arrangement may differ for employees who follow alternative working patterns. This is particularly relevant in Sharjah, where government employees follow a four-day working week with Friday included in their regular weekend.
Why It Matters?
The August 28 holiday gives UAE residents a confirmed date for planning the final long weekend of August.
For residents:
- The religious occasion falls on August 25.
- The official public holiday is August 28.
- Public and private-sector employees are covered by the announced holiday.
- Saturday-Sunday employees can expect a three-day weekend.
- Normal working schedules resume on Monday, August 31.
- Businesses operating during the holiday may follow separate staffing arrangements.
The timing also matters for families because the long weekend falls immediately before the start of the new academic year. The 2026-27 school year is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 31, although parents should follow their individual school’s confirmed calendar for reporting and orientation arrangements.
For Dubai’s hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, a Friday public holiday can also bring additional domestic demand as residents use the weekend for family outings, staycations and local activities. However, specific visitor numbers or economic gains from this particular holiday have not been disclosed.
FAQs
Is August 25 a public holiday in the UAE?
No. August 25, 2026, is the date of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday according to the Hijri calendar. The official UAE public holiday has been designated for Friday, August 28.
Is August 28 a holiday for private-sector employees?
Yes. The UAE Government announced August 28 as the public holiday for both public and private sectors.
How many days off will UAE employees get?
Employees who normally have Saturday and Sunday off will have a three-day break from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30.
When will UAE employees return to work?
For employees following the standard working arrangement, normal working hours resume on Monday, August 31, 2026. Dubai Government departments have also confirmed Monday as the return-to-work date.
Why does Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday have a different Gregorian date every year?
The occasion is tied to 12 Rabi Al Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. Since the Hijri calendar follows lunar months rather than the Gregorian calendar, the corresponding Gregorian date changes each year.
The sighting of the Rabi Al Awwal crescent has confirmed August 25, 2026, as Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday in the UAE, while Friday, August 28, remains the official public holiday for public and private-sector employees. For residents with Saturday-Sunday weekends, the arrangement creates a three-day break before work resumes on August 31.
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