UAE declares three-day public holiday for Prophet Muhammad's birthday

The UAE Government Media Office has announced that Friday, August 28, 2026, will be a paid public holiday for federal government and private sector employees to observe the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi). Because the holiday falls on a Friday, employees observing a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend will receive a three-day break from August 28 through August 30.

This announcement aligns with Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which allows certain public holidays to be shifted to the beginning or end of a week to create longer weekends, provided the Cabinet issues a specific decision. Transferable holidays include the Gregorian New Year, Hijri New Year, Prophet’s Birthday, Arafat Day, and UAE National Day. However, the law explicitly excludes Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha from being shifted, as their dates are strictly tied to Islamic rituals.