The UAE has announced that Friday, September 5, will be a public holiday for government workers nationwide to mark the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday.
This holiday is celebrated by Muslims worldwide and aligns with the religious event on the 12th of Rabi Al Awwal in the Hijri calendar.
The announcement grants government employees a three-day weekend, as the official weekend includes Saturday and Sunday. In Sharjah, public sector workers already enjoy Fridays off as part of their normal weekend.
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This decision followed the non-sighting of the crescent for Rabi Al Awwal on Saturday, August 23. The UAE’s astronomy center confirmed that the month of Safar would extend to 30 days, starting the third Hijri month on Monday, August 25, with the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday on 12 Rabi Al Awwal aligning with September 5.
Interestingly, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will not celebrate the Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday on the same day this year, as Saudi Arabia sighted the moon a day earlier than the Emirates.
The Hijri (Islamic) calendar is lunar-based, with each month beginning upon the sighting of the new moon.
On the 29th day of every Hijri month, the UAE moon sighting committee meets to observe the crescent and announce the start of the next Islamic month.
