The UAE has announced a private sector holiday to mark the Hijri New Year. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that Friday, June 27, will be an official paid holiday for private sector companies in the UAE on the occasion of the Islamic New Year, marking the beginning of the Hijri year 1447 AH. Some employees who get Saturday as a weekend along with Sunday will enjoy a long weekend from June 27 to June 29, making it a 3-day weekend for them.
Regular working hours are expected to resume on Monday, June 30. Public sector employees will also get similar days of holidays. A unified holiday policy implemented in the UAE for public and private sector workers ensures all employees get equal breaks throughout the year. The Hijri New Year holiday follows the long break residents enjoyed during the Eid Al Adha holidays at the beginning of June.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) announcement applies to all private sector employees in the country. The Islamic, or Hijri, calendar is based on lunar months, and the New Year begins on the first day of Muharram, the calendar's first month. The date was confirmed in line with the approved list of official holidays for 2025, issued by the UAE Cabinet.
Islamic New Year:
The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, commemorates the migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, an event that marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. Though the occasion is not typically celebrated on the same scale as Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it remains an important date in the Islamic world and is recognised as a public holiday in the UAE.