Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

UAE residents have barely returned from the extended Eid Al Adha holiday and many are already looking ahead to the next official break on the national calendar. The next UAE public holiday is the Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, which is forecast to fall on either June 16 or June 17, depending on the official moon sighting. The final date will be announced by UAE authorities closer to the occasion. UPDATE - On June 3, UAE authorities declared that June 15 will be a public holiday for employees in the public and private sectors. The Islamic New Year is recognised as a public holiday across the UAE for both public and private sector employees. The Hijri New Year marks the beginning of a new year in the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates the Hijrah, or migration, of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, an event regarded as the starting point of the Islamic calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar year, the Islamic calendar follows lunar cycles, causing Islamic holidays to shift annually.

More UAE public holidays ahead in 2026

Residents can also look forward to two more major public holidays later this year. The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is expected to be observed on August 25, corresponding to the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal, subject to moon sighting. The UAE National Day, officially known as Eid Al Etihad, will be celebrated on December 2 and 3. This year's observance falls on Wednesday and Thursday, followed immediately by the Friday-Saturday weekend, potentially giving many employees a four-day holiday. ICA/Expat Media
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