The government has officially declared Friday, June 27, as a public holiday for public sector workers to mark the start of the Islamic New Year, 1447 AH.

The announcement was made by the UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), stating that all employees working in federal government departments will get a day off, resulting in a three-day weekend. Work will resume as usual on Monday, June 30.

This holiday is part of the UAE Cabinet’s approved list of official holidays for 2025. As per Islamic tradition, the exact date of the Hijri New Year is confirmed by moon sighting, with the first day of Muharram marking the beginning of the new Islamic year.

The Hijri calendar follows the lunar cycle, and Muharram is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam. This holiday comes shortly after residents enjoyed a longer break during Eid-ul-Adha earlier this month.

While the private sector usually announces its holidays separately, it often follows the same schedule as the public sector. However, there has been no official announcement yet regarding any additional leave for private sector employees.