The crescent moon for the month of Rabi Al Awwal has been sighted in the UAE. This observation marks the end of the Hijri month of Safar and confirms the date for the Prophet's Birthday. August 14 is the first day of Rabi Al Awwal. The Prophet's Birthday falls on the 12th day of this month, which corresponds to Tuesday, August 25.
While the religious occasion occurs on Tuesday, the official public holiday has been shifted. The UAE government announced that Friday, August 28, will be a holiday for both public and private sectors. This adjustment creates a three-day weekend for employees who observe Saturday and Sunday as their weekly days off. The change follows a resolution introduced in 2025, which allows public holidays falling on weekdays to be moved to the beginning or end of the week. This transfer policy applies to all holidays except for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha breaks.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) issued a specific announcement regarding the schedule for Dubai government departments, authorities, and institutions. The department confirmed that Friday, August 28, will be an official holiday, with official working hours set to resume on Monday, August 31. Public sector employees in Sharjah, who already have Fridays off as part of their standard weekend, will observe the holiday according to their specific schedules.
The Hijri calendar is based on lunar sightings, meaning the phases of the moon determine the months. Each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. On the 29th of every month, a moon-sighting committee convenes to observe the crescent and declare the commencement of the next Islamic month. This system means that dates vary annually in the Gregorian calendar.
The long weekend coincides with the final days of the school summer break. The 2026-27 academic year is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 31, the same day work resumes for many government employees. This timing provides families with an extended break before the new academic term begins.
