People living in the United Arab Emirates will have a public holiday coming their way very soon. This is because Friday, August 28, 2026, has been declared as a public holiday in honor of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by the UAE authorities.
This public holiday is applicable to both the public and private sectors alike.
When is the UAE public holiday in August 2026?
The UAE August public holiday will be celebrated on:
- Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
- Holiday: The Birthday of the Prophet (PBUH)
- Sectors: Government and Private Sector
- Day: Friday
This holiday occurs on 12 Rabi’ Al Awwal in the Islamic Calendar. Holidays in the Islamic calendar follow the Hijri calendar and vary depending on moon sightings.
Will August 28 be a long weekend?
For those workers whose weekends are Friday and Saturday, the Friday public holiday will offer them an extra-long weekend starting from Friday, August 28, until Sunday, August 30.
It is a good chance for citizens to arrange a short holiday during this public holiday in August.
Is August 28 a holiday for private-sector employees?
Yes. The UAE Government has announced Friday, August 28, 2026, as a paid public holiday for employees of the public sector as well as the private sector celebrating the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Prophet Mohammed’s birthday is one of the public holidays according to the UAE Government’s public holiday guidelines applicable to both government and private-sector employees.
What happens if employees have to work on the public holiday?
Private sector employees are usually eligible for paid leave on UAE Public Holidays. In case employees are obliged to perform their duties on such a day, UAE labor laws ensure that employees get compensated with another resting day or extra payment according to the relevant law.
Employees should contact their employers to confirm their schedules of work especially when working shift hours.
Dubai Government employees
Friday, August 28, 2026 has been declared an Official Holiday by Dubai Government for Dubai Government departments, authorities, and institutions.
Some of the employees who are working in shifts, facing the public or working in public utility places may not be the same.
What should UAE residents know?
August public holiday precedes the resumption of the academic year. For schools adhering to the UAE 2026-27 academic calendar, they have planned for their reopening on Monday, August 31. This means that the last weekend of the summer holidays may be used to go traveling or to do some family engagements.
Travelers need to book their tickets, hotels, and activities ahead of time due to demand that arises during the holiday.
UAE Public Holidays After August 2026
Following the August holiday, the second UAE public holiday in the federal calendar would be UAE National Day which falls on December 2 and 3, 2026.
Final Takeaway
UAE Public Holiday August 2026 will take place on Friday, August 28th. It is celebrated in remembrance of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and covers the private as well as public sectors, while those who have weekends from Saturday-Sunday will have three days off.
For UAE citizens, it is a nice occasion to have some short vacation plans before schools resume operations on August 31st.
