UAE announces public holiday for Prophet Mohammed’s birthday on September 5
Crescent moon sighting confirms start of Rabi Al Awwal in UAE
ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a public holiday for federal government employees on Friday, September 5, 2025, to mark the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
The declaration by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources allows employees to enjoy a three-day weekend, aligning with the regular Saturday and Sunday off.
The occasion is one of the most significant religious events for Muslims worldwide and is typically observed with cultural and spiritual celebrations.
When does it start?
The International Astronomy Center in the UAE confirmed that the crescent of Rabi Al Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar, was not sighted on Saturday, August 23. As a result, the month began on Monday, August 25, in the UAE, Oman, Jordan, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, and several Asian nations including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran.
How is it celebrated?
The Prophet’s birthday, observed on 12 Rabi Al Awwal, coincides this year with Friday, September 5. In contrast, countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Palestine, Egypt, and Tunisia, which sighted the crescent a day earlier, began Rabi Al Awwal on Sunday, August 24. This results in the UAE celebrating the holiday a day later than some neighbouring nations.
What determines the date?
The Hijri calendar is lunar-based, with each month commencing following the sighting of the new moon. The UAE moon sighting committee meets on the 29th of every Islamic month to confirm the appearance of the crescent and declare the start of the following month, ensuring accurate observance of religious holidays.