The UAE has officially announced the date of the Hijri or Islamic New Year public holiday for 2025. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) confirmed that June 27 is the official date for the Islamic New Year holiday public holiday.
This means both public and private sector employees will enjoy a three-day long weekend from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29.
How do Muslims observe the Islamic New Year?
Unlike Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, there are no big celebrations for the Islamic New Year. It is a day of spiritual reflection and remembrance through prayers.
What is the Islamic New Year?
The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of a new year in the Hijri calendar and also the first day of Muharram, the Islamic calendar’s first month, considered one of Islam’s four most sacred months.
Although the public holiday date for the Hijri New Year has been declared, we’ll find out exactly when the Hijri year 1447 AH begins only on the evening of Wednesday, June 25.
Depending on moon sighting by authorities, the Hijri New Year can fall on June 25 or June 26. Either way, Friday, June 27, will remain a public holiday as this UAE Public Holiday law allows the cabinet to carry over and switch certain public holidays to the beginning or end of the week.
Last year, the Islamic New Year fell on the weekend, and UAE residents missed out on an additional public holiday.
Why does the date change every year?
That’s because the Hijri calendar is based on the lunar cycles of the moon, not the solar cycle like the standard Gregorian calendar we use. Moreover, a lunar year is 11-12 days shorter than a 365-day solar year, as lunar months only have 29 to 30 days.
This is why Islamic months and holidays, including Eid and Ramadan, have no fixed dates on the Gregorian calendar. They always move up and fall earlier and earlier every year.
Another reason dates can vary? The lunar calendar of Muslims kicks off a new month with the sighting of the crescent moon. And since different regions spot the moon at different times, Islamic festivals and religious observances start, end and fall on different days around the world.