Long Weekend Alert: UAE Gets a 3-Day Break This September!

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Get ready to mark your calendars, because the UAE long weekend is officially here! Both the public sector and the private sector will enjoy a public holiday on Friday, September 5, to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH). And when you add in Saturday and Sunday, that means a glorious three-day weekend for Dubai and the rest of the Emirates.

The news was confirmed earlier this week when the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced the holiday for the private sector. Soon after, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources shared the same good news for public sector workers. By Thursday, the Dubai Government Human Resources Department also released a circular to make it official - everyone’s getting Friday off!

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Why Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) Changes Every Year

If you have noticed that Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday falls on different dates each year, the reason is that the holiday follows the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Islamic calendar is based on the moon’s cycle, with each month lasting either 29 or 30 days depending on the crescent sighting. That makes a lunar year about 10 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar most people use daily. As a result, Islamic holidays like this one shift each year when compared to the standard calendar.

This year, the crescent for Rabi’ Al-Awwal, the month in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born, was sighted on Sunday, August 24. That meant Monday, August 25 was the first day of the Islamic month, placing the holiday on Friday, September 5.

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Why This Long Weekend Matters

Public holidays such as this are not only a time for religious reflection but also a chance for families and friends to come together, enjoy local traditions, or plan a short getaway. With Dubai’s beaches, resorts, cultural landmarks, and vibrant dining scene, there is no shortage of ways to make the most of the long weekend.

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