UAE public holiday for Prophet Muhammad's birthday

The UAE government and the Dubai Government Human Resources Department have announced that Friday, August 28, 2026, will be an official holiday to observe the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi).

At the federal level, the UAE Government Media Office stated the holiday applies to both federal government and private sector employees. Because the holiday falls on a Friday, employees with a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend will receive a three-day break through August 30. This follows Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which permits certain holidays to be shifted to create longer weekends.

In Dubai, the holiday applies to government departments, authorities, and institutions. While most employees will benefit from a three-day weekend, the holiday does not apply to shift workers or those in public service roles. Individual entities will manage specific working hours for these staff to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

Regional observances for the Prophet’s Birthday are being coordinated across several Middle Eastern nations. In Kuwait, the Council of Ministers has approved Thursday, August 27, 2027, as a public holiday, which will provide government employees with a three-day break. In Egypt, the Dar al-Ifta expects the observance to fall on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. While it is a paid holiday for the public and private sectors, there is anticipation that the Egyptian government may postpone the holiday to Thursday to facilitate an extended break.