UAE Private Sector to Celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday with 3-Day Holiday
As part of the public holidays UAE 2025, the government has announced a three-day holiday for private sector employees on September 5 to mark Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday. The holiday aligns with the official weekend, giving many employees a long weekend to celebrate this important occasion.
This religious holiday is observed globally and falls on 12 Rabi Al Awwal according to the Hijri calendar.
Holiday Details for Public and Private Sectors
| Sector | Official Holiday Date | Weekend Alignment | Total Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Sector | September 5, 2025 | Friday-Sunday | 3 Days |
| Government | September 5, 2025 | Friday-Sunday | 3 Days |
| Sharjah Public Sector | September 5, 2025 | Friday Off | 3 Days |
Note: Sharjah public sector employees already have Fridays off, so the holiday aligns differently but still creates a long weekend.
Moon Sighting Determines Prophet’s Birthday
The holiday announcement follows the non-sighting of the crescent moon for Rabi Al Awwal on August 23, as confirmed by the UAE Astronomy Centre. This observation established that Safar lasted 30 days, with Rabi Al Awwal beginning on Monday, August 25, making September 5 the 12th day of the month.
Due to differences in lunar sightings, Saudi Arabia will celebrate the birthday on a different day than the UAE this year.
The Hijri calendar is lunar-based, meaning each month begins with the sighting of a new crescent moon. The UAE moon sighting committee observes the crescent on the 29th of each Hijri month to declare the start of the next Islamic month.
Key Highlights
- UAE private sector employees get September 5 off, creating a three-day weekend.
- Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday falls on 12 Rabi Al Awwal.
- Lunar sightings dictate the start of Islamic months, causing differences between countries.
- Public and private sectors in the UAE both observe the holiday.
