Friday, June 27, 2025, has been declared an official paid holiday for private sector employees in the United Arab Emirates in observance of the Islamic (Hijri) New Year 1447 AH, according to an announcement issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) on Monday, June 16. The announcement aligns with an earlier confirmation by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, which extended the same day off to public sector employees. This reflects the UAE’s unified national holiday policy that ensures both public and private sector workers receive equal official holidays throughout the year. For employees with a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend, this creates a three-day long weekend from June 27 to June 29, with regular work expected to resume on Monday, June 30. The holiday is part of the UAE Cabinet’s approved list of official holidays for 2025, and follows the extended break residents recently enjoyed during the Eid Al Adha holidays earlier in June. The Islamic, or Hijri, New Year, also referred to as Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar and falls on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Hijri calendar. The Hijri calendar is based on lunar months and differs from the Gregorian calendar in both structure and observance. The occasion commemorates the Hijrah, or migration, of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 CE, an event that marks the start of the Islamic calendar. While not typically celebrated on the same scale as Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it remains a solemn and significant religious date and is recognized with a public holiday in the UAE. The ministry’s announcement applies to all private sector companies operating within the UAE. Looking ahead, the next Islamic holiday is expected to be Mawlid Al Nabawi, or the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday, which is anticipated to fall on Thursday, September 4, 2025, corresponding to the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal. As with all Islamic holidays, the exact date will be confirmed by the moon-sighting committee and relevant religious authorities in the UAE. Following that, the UAE National Day holidays will be observed on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 2–3, marking the country’s founding with a two-day mid-week break. Under UAE law, the handling of official holidays is governed by several key provisions:
- Article No. 2 of the Cabinet resolution states that, except for Eid holidays, official public holidays may be moved to the beginning or end of the week by a Cabinet decision.
- Article No. 3 clarifies that if a holiday coincides with a weekend or another public holiday, it will not be carried forward.
- Article No. 4 permits local governments to approve additional official holidays not listed in the federal resolution for special occasions or institutional needs.
The announcement reaffirms the UAE’s structured and transparent approach to managing public holidays across all sectors, allowing residents to plan their personal and professional commitments in advance.
