What the Prophet’s Birthday holiday marks
The Prophet’s Birthday (Mawlid Al Nabawi) falls on the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal in the Hijri calendar. In the UAE it is a one-day paid public holiday for federal government and private sector employees, marked by observance rather than celebration, with festivities kept to a minimum.
How the date is set
Because the Hijri calendar is lunar, the Gregorian date shifts by about 10 to 11 days earlier each year and is confirmed through moon sighting. The Cabinet may then move the holiday to the start or end of the week under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Eid holidays cannot be moved, and a transfer is never automatic.
2026 and 2027
- 2026: expected on Tuesday 25 August, moved by the Cabinet to Friday 28 August. See how the move worked.
- 2027: expected on Saturday 14 August. On that expected date it falls on a weekend, so the weekend limit in the transfer rule would apply. Check our 2027 holiday dates.
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