The UAE has declared a public holiday for private sector employees on Friday, September 5, to mark the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday.
As a result, most employees will enjoy a three-day weekend, as this holiday will extend into the official weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
This occasion is celebrated by many believers worldwide, aligning with the religious event of 12 Rabi Al Awwal in the Hijri calendar.
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Previously, the UAE announced the public holiday for government workers, designating September 5 as the official day. This also results in a three-day break for them. Meanwhile, Sharjah’s public sector employees already have Fridays off as part of their regular weekends.
This announcement follows the non-sighting of the crescent for Rabi Al Awwal on Saturday, August 23. The UAE’s astronomy center confirmed that Safar would last 30 days, and the third Hijri month would start on Monday, August 25, leading the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday to fall on September 5, as it does every year on 12 Rabi Al Awwal.
In an unusual instance, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will observe the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday on different days, as the Kingdom sighted the Moon a day before the Emirates.
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar relies on lunar observations, meaning the moon’s phases determine its months. Each month starts with the sighting of the new moon.
On the 29th of each Hijri month, the UAE moon sighting committee meets to observe the crescent and announce the start of the next Islamic month.
