Middle Eastern nations announce Prophet’s Birthday holidays

Several Middle Eastern nations have announced or projected public holiday schedules for the upcoming observance of the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid Al-Nabawi).

In the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department confirmed Friday, August 28, 2026, as an official holiday for government departments and institutions. This creates a three-day weekend for most staff, though employees in essential services or shift-based roles will continue working according to specific operational requirements. In the UAE, the total number of annual public holidays can vary between 12 and 13 days depending on the length of Ramadan.

Kuwait’s Council of Ministers has approved Thursday, August 27, 2027, as a public holiday, providing government employees with a three-day break when combined with the weekend. Essential services, including security and healthcare, will maintain continuous operations.

In Egypt, the Dar al-Ifta announced that the Prophet’s Birthday is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. While it is a paid holiday for both public and private sectors, there is anticipation that the government may postpone the holiday to Thursday to allow for an extended break.