UAE to get a three-day holiday this week – here’s what you need to know
Only two official holidays remain on the 2025 calendar
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set for a three-day long weekend this week, following the official confirmation of a public holiday on Friday, 5th September.
Both private and public sector employees will observe the occasion marking Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH).
Three-day weekend
With the holiday falling on a Friday, residents will enjoy an extended weekend alongside the usual Saturday and Sunday break.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced the private sector holiday on 26th August, shortly after the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources confirmed the same for the public sector. Dubai Government departments also issued a circular confirming that all government offices in the emirate will close on 5 September.
Prophet’s Birthday
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is observed on the 12th day of Rabi’ Al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar, meaning its Gregorian date shifts annually. In 2025, the new Hijri month began on 25 August, after the crescent moon was sighted the day before.
The Islamic calendar is lunar, with each month lasting 29 or 30 days depending on moon sightings. This makes the lunar year around 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year. As a result, Islamic occasions move earlier each year when compared with fixed Gregorian dates. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is one of four UAE public holidays based on the Hijri calendar.
More holidays in 2025
UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 sets out 12 annual public holidays for both sectors. For the remainder of 2025, only two more official holidays are left. After this week’s long weekend, the nation will celebrate UAE National Day on Tuesday, 2 December and Wednesday, 3 December.
Commemoration Day falls on Sunday, 30 November, but it is commonly marked on 1 December. This alignment could give residents a four-day break from 1 to 4 December. The Cabinet has authority to transfer certain holidays to create longer weekends, though Eid holidays are excluded.
How are dates decided?
Fixed dates such as New Year’s Day and National Day follow the Gregorian calendar, while Islamic occasions depend on official moon sightings. Cabinet resolutions ensure that holidays apply across both private and public sectors, though local governments may also declare additional days for special purposes.