UAE Announces Friday, August 28 as Public Holiday for Prophet Mohammed's Birthday, Granting Three-Day Weekend

The UAE Government Media Office announced on August 7, 2026, that Friday, August 28, will be a paid public holiday for federal government and private sector employees to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, known as Mawlid Al Nabawi. Employees observing the standard Saturday-Sunday weekend will enjoy a three-day break from Friday, August 28, through Sunday, August 30, before returning to work on Monday, August 31, according to Gulf News and The National. The Prophet's birthday is expected to fall on Tuesday, August 25, pending confirmation from the UAE's moon-sighting committee, but the holiday has been moved to the end of the week in line with a 2025 government initiative that allows certain public holidays to be scheduled at the start or end of the working week to improve workplace flexibility, excluding Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha. The announcement provides advance notice for employers and workers to plan accordingly and aligns with the UAE's public holiday calendar. The timing places the long weekend during the final week of the school summer break, just before the 2026-27 academic year begins, offering families additional rest and travel opportunities. Mawlid Al Nabawi is observed by Muslims around the world on the 12th day of Rabi' Al Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and is marked with religious gatherings, Quran recitations, and sermons reflecting on the Prophet's life and teachings.