Latest news with #Rabi'Al-Awwal
Time Out Dubai
05-08-2025
- Time Out Dubai
When is the next UAE public holiday: What you need to know
The UAE Cabinet announced at the start of the year that there will be at least 12 public holidays in 2025, depending on official moon sightings. We have at least four more days off to look forward to this year, but you may be wondering: 'When is the next public holiday in the UAE?' Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming public holidays left in 2025. When is the next UAE public holiday 2025? Credit: Supplied Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) will be the next public holiday in the UAE. The Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday, celebrated during Rabi Al-Awwal – the third month of the Islamic calendar – is widely recognised across many Islamic nations, including those in the Gulf region. These countries, including the UAE, typically mark the day with a national holiday. If Rabi' Al-Awwal begins on Monday August 25, then the Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH) should fall on Friday September 5. This would give Dubai residents a three-day long weekend when combined with Saturday and Sunday. But if Rabi' Al-Awwal begins on Sunday August 24, then Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH) should fall on Thursday September 4. This would give Dubai residents an additional day off during the working week. The exact date will be confirmed closer to the time and will depend on official moon sightings. In 2025, if a public holiday falls on the weekend, it can now be moved to the start of the new week. This is a new law introduced in 2025 and can be found in the UAE Official Gazette. However, this law does not apply to either Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Public holidays list of dates 2025 We have at least 12 public holidays in the UAE in 2025. Here is the full list of days off this year… Making plans? Check these out: The countries with the most public holidays for 2025 — and how Dubai compares One country has 35 public holidays this year The UAE public holidays law explained: What happens if a day off is on a weekend The law changed in 2025 UAE National Day 2025 could bring a five-day weekend — here's why It's never too early
Time Out Abu Dhabi
05-08-2025
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Are we getting another long weekend in the UAE for Prophet Muhammad's birthday?
We're officially in long weekend watch mode and the next potential break on the UAE calendar is Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) – which could mean a three-day weekend for residents across Abu Dhabi (and beyond). So, what's the latest? One of the key dates in the 2025 UAE public holiday calendar is the Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH), which always falls on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' Al-Awwal. And According to Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, it's expected to align with Thursday, September 4, 2025, based on astronomical calculations. Here's where it gets exciting: if the UAE government opts to shift the holiday to Friday (as is often the case under public holiday law), we could be looking at a Friday-Saturday-Sunday break. Is it officially a UAE public holiday? Yes. Prophet Muhammad's Birthday is included in the UAE's list of official public holidays. While the date is confirmed closer to the time by the government, the holiday itself is locked in – it's just a matter of when we get the day off. When will we know for sure? As always, the official holiday date will be confirmed by UAE authorities closer to the time, but it's worth keeping that first weekend of September clear – just in case. According to astronomers, the moon will reach full illumination on Saturday, August 9, giving them a clear view to estimate the Islamic calendar dates ahead. We'll update you as soon as the government confirms the date. In the meantime, start thinking about your potential getaway plans. What's the next public holiday after this? If you're already mentally in PTO mode, the next official break after Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) will be Eid Al Etihad, formerly known as UAE National Day. That will fall midweek, on Tuesday December 2 and Wednesday December 3, 2025. Coming up in Abu Dhabi… The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi It's time for some air-conditioned bliss Psst: This is when summer officially ends in Abu Dhabi No complaints here 25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
Time Out Dubai
04-08-2025
- General
- Time Out Dubai
Why Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) falls on a different date every year
In Dubai, public holidays such as the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) move around the calendar and start on a different day every year. The upcoming holiday is one of four public holidays in the UAE that rely on the Islamic calendar to determine when it begins. Also known as the Hijri calendar, the Islamic calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, unlike the more widely used Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun. The lunar calendar is used predominantly by Muslims around the world to determine the dates of religious events and observances. And this fundamental difference impacts how the calendar operates and why Islamic dates shift annually in relation to the Gregorian calendar. Credit: Pexels How long is each Islamic month? Each Islamic month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon's visibility. Consequently, a lunar year is approximately 354 or 355 days long, which is about 10 to 12 days shorter than the solar year used in the Gregorian calendar. Because of the shorter year, Islamic months drift through the Gregorian calendar. You might also like: Eid Al Adha break will fall over the weekend this year: Here's why this public holiday won't shift This discrepancy causes Islamic months to shift backwards through the seasons over a 33-year cycle. Which is why 2024 was the first time in 24 years that Ramadan took place during the winter time. It will keep shifting and eventually take place in the summer again. In the Islamic calendar, a new month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. This can sometimes lead to slight variations in the start of months between different regions due to differences in moon sighting. (This also explains why Ramadan and Eid start on different days in different countries). You might also like: The UAE public holidays law explained Key Islamic celebrations such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and the Hajj pilgrimage are all determined by the Islamic calendar, making them 'movable feasts' relative to the Gregorian calendar. What are the Islamic calendar months? The Islamic calendar is also made up of 12 months, each beginning with the sighting of the new moon. These months are: Muharram Safar Rabi' Al Awwal Rabi' Al Thani Jumada Al Awwal Jumada Al Thani Rajab Sha'ban Ramadan Shawwal Dhu Al-Qa'dah Dhu Al-Hijjah So… when is the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday 2025 (PBUH) in 2025? Officially, we get one day off work to mark Prophet Muhammad's Birthday 2025 (PBUH). Current astronomical predictions indicate that the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH), which falls on the Islamic date of Rabi' Al-Awwal 12 every year, should fall on Friday September 5 in the UAE. This would give Dubai residents a three-day long weekend when combined with Saturday and Sunday. But if Rabi' Al-Awwal begins on Sunday August 24, then Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH) should fall on Thursday September 4. However, the public holiday law states that holidays can be moved to the beginning or end of the week to provide a longer holiday. Which could mean that even if Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) falls on Thursday, the public holiday will be on Friday instead. More news in Dubai There will be two Ramadans in 2030 – here's why This won't happen again until 2063 When you can expect three Eid holidays in one year (yes, three) Eid, sleep, repeat UAE public holidays 2026: All the predicted days off next year revealed Including when we can expect a six-day weekend
Time Out Dubai
01-08-2025
- Time Out Dubai
One month until the next UAE public holiday: What you need to know
The UAE Cabinet announced at the start of the year that there will be at least 12 public holidays in 2025, depending on official moon sightings. We have at least four more days off to look forward to this year, but you may be wondering: 'When is the next public holiday in the UAE?' Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming public holidays left in 2025. When is the next UAE public holiday 2025? Credit: Supplied Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) will be the next public holiday in the UAE. The Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday, celebrated during Rabi Al-Awwal – the third month of the Islamic calendar – is widely recognised across many Islamic nations, including those in the Gulf region. These countries, including the UAE, typically mark the day with a national holiday. If Rabi' Al-Awwal begins on Monday August 25, then the Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH) should fall on Friday September 5. This would give Dubai residents a three-day long weekend when combined with Saturday and Sunday. But if Rabi' Al-Awwal begins on Sunday August 24, then Prophet Muhammad's birthday (PBUH) should fall on Thursday September 4. This would give Dubai residents an additional day off during the working week. The exact date will be confirmed closer to the time and will depend on official moon sightings. In 2025, if a public holiday falls on the weekend, it can now be moved to the start of the new week. This is a new law introduced in 2025 and can be found in the UAE Official Gazette. However, this law does not apply to either Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Public holidays list of dates 2025 We have at least 12 public holidays in the UAE in 2025. Here is the full list of days off this year… Making plans? Check these out: The countries with the most public holidays for 2025 — and how Dubai compares One country has 35 public holidays this year The UAE public holidays law explained: What happens if a day off is on a weekend The law changed in 2025 UAE National Day 2025 could bring a five-day weekend — here's why It's never too early
Time Out Dubai
15-07-2025
- Time Out Dubai
Prophet Muhammad Birthday 2025: When will official date be announced?
Another public holiday is coming soon in the UAE, and we're already looking forward to some extra time off. Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) will give us a day off in September as summer in Dubai winds down for another year. Unlike last year, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday is likely to fall during the week, giving us more time off work. Dubai residents will officially get the day off to celebrate on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi' Al-Awwal. Current predictions indicate that the celebration will fall on Friday September 5, though there is a chance that it could fall on Thursday September 4 if Safar is a 29-day month. If the occasion officially falls on Thursday, then it is likely that the UAE will move the public holiday to Friday September 5, to give us a three-day long weekend. This follows the UAE public holiday law introduced at the start of 2025, which allows official holiday dates to shift to the beginning or the end of the week. The special occasion is widely recognised across Islamic nations, including those in the Gulf region. These countries, including the UAE, typically mark the day with a national holiday. When will the official Prophet Muhammad's Birthday date be confirmed? (Credit: Canva) Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) is one of several public holidays in the UAE determined by the Hijri calendar, meaning it relies on lunar sightings before we officially know when it begins. For the occasion itself, we won't have official confirmation of when it begins until Sunday August 24. On the evening of Sunday August 24, we'll find out whether or not Safar is a 29-day or 30-day month. While this is when we'll likely know the date of Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, the UAE has announced Hijri holiday dates ahead of official moon sightings this year. The most recent example is Islamic New Year, which saw the public holiday dates announced several days in advance of any official moon sighting. However, if the UAE decides not to move the public holiday date for Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH), then Thursday September 4 will be the official day off if Safar is a 29-day month. And if current predictions prove to be correct, then Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH) should fall on Friday September 5. This would give Dubai residents a three-day long weekend. When is the next public holiday in UAE after Prophet Muhammad's Birthday? (Credit: Canva) The next public holiday in the UAE in 2025 is Eid Al Etihad, formerly known as Union Day. The holidays officially fall midweek, on Tuesday December 2 and Wednesday December 3, marking the country's National Day celebrations. However, there is a chance that these days could shift or even give us a five-day long weekend. Life in Dubai Direct flights from Dubai: All the brilliant places to explore So many options, so little time In pictures: Dubai then and now See just how much the city has changed through the decades 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list
