UAE residents can now look forward to a long weekend this month. The UAE Government Media Office announced that the next UAE public holiday will fall on Friday, 28 August 2026, to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.
Friday, 28 August will be a paid public holiday for employees in the federal government and private sectors. With the holiday falling at the end of the work week, employees will enjoy a three-day break through Sunday, 30 August. The next working day will be on Monday, 31 August.
Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is also known as Mawlid Al Nabawi and is observed by Muslims worldwide on the 12th day of Rabi’ Al Awwal, which is the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
The birth of Prophet Muhammad is often celebrated across countries with religious gatherings, recitations of the Quran, and sermons on the Prophet’s life and teachings. The date of the occasion is different every year on the Gregorian calendar as the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.
With the prospect of a long weekend this month, many UAE residents can now plan quick getaways or staycations over the weekend and spend some much-needed quality time with family.
Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is actually expected to fall on Tuesday, 25 August. The shift of the holiday from Tuesday to Friday is possible due to the UAE’s public holiday rules. The rules permit certain holidays to be moved to the beginning or end of the working week.
Official holidays that do not overlap with the weekend can be moved through a Cabinet decision, so residents can take advantage of longer breaks. This applies to most official holidays, except those on Eid.
In case a public holiday falls on a weekend or overlaps with another public holiday, it is not carried forward.
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