By Staff Reporter
The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be the next public holiday in the UAE. Believed to be on Rabi Al Awwal 12, residents will get a one-day holiday for the occasion.
Rabi’ Al Awwal in 2025 is expected to begin on Sunday, August 24 and end on September 22, according to the Islamic calendar. If the month starts on August 24, then the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday should fall on Thursday, September 4.
If the month begins on Monday, August 25, then the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday should fall on Friday, September 5. This would give UAE residents a three-day long weekend when combined with their weekends — Saturday and Sunday.
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is based on lunar sightings, meaning the phases of the moon determine its months. Each month begins with the sighting of the new moon. The Hijri year is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so the dates of Islamic months shift earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Can holidays be moved?
According to a resolution introduced in 2025, except for the Eid breaks, all other holidays can be moved to the beginning or end of the week if they fall on a weekend. This can be done only through a UAE Cabinet decision. The local government in each Emirate may also announce additional holidays as deemed necessary.
