That first week back into the office after a long weekend is always an uphill battle. Which is why we have some good news to help you battle that post-holiday blues. UAE residents have another public holiday in the offing as the Islamic New Year, known as the Hijri New Year, approaches.
As the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar unlike the Gregorian calendar, the date isn’t set in stone. However, the Emirates Astronomical Society has predicted that the Hijri year 1445 AH will commence on Wednesday, July 19.
This will mark the first day of Muharram – the first month of the Islamic calendar. But based on this list of official public holidays released by the UAE Cabinet, the public holiday for Hijri New Year will likely be observed on Friday, July 21. And you know what that means… another three-day weekend!
An official announcement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) is pending and usually drops a week or two ahead of public holidays. So, hang tight till then. Meanwhile, keep this page bookmarked. We’ll be updating it with confirmed dates as well as ideas for things to do over the long weekend.
Why aren’t dates of the Islamic public holiday confirmed in advance?
The Islamic or Hijri year is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar as it is based on moon sightings. The 12 lunar months have an average of 29 or 30 days each. Therefore, dates of important religious events and festivals change and shift based on when the crescent moon is sighted.
What are the other UAE public holidays this year?
After the Islamic New Year holiday, the next public holiday that could add up to a precious long weekend (subject to confirmation) is Prophet Mohammed’s birthday. It is expected to fall on Friday, September 29, nabbing UAE residents their final three-day weekend of the year until October 1.
The last public holiday in the UAE in 2023 will be the National Day holidays in December. However, it might not get us the much-longed-for extended weekend. Sadly, December 2 and 3 fall on a Saturday and Sunday this year.