Three-Day Weekend Confirmed: UAE Announces Public and Private Sector Holiday for Prophet’s Birthday

The long weekend comes during the final week of the school summer break

The UAE has announced Friday, August 28, 2026 as a holiday for public and private sectors this year for the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

This makes it a three-day weekend for UAE employees who enjoy Saturday and Sunday as official days off every week. Public sector employees in Sharjah already get Fridays off as part of their usual weekends.

The long weekend comes during the final week of the school summer break, with the 2026-27 academic year set to begin on August 31.

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday is among the occasions covered under the UAE’s public holiday calendar, with the final date and any change to the holiday confirmed through official announcements.

Celebrated by many faithful across the globe, the holiday coincides with the religious occasion that falls on 12 Rabi Al Awwal of the Hijri calendar.

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. 

On the 29th of every Hijri month, the UAE moon sighting committee convenes to observe the crescent and declare the commencement of the next Islamic month.

Source: Khaleejtimes