DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — UAE residents are set for a three-day break later this month, with the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday public holiday falling on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
For employees who follow the standard Saturday-Sunday weekend, the holiday will create a continuous break from Friday through Sunday, Aug. 30.
Normal working hours will resume Monday, Aug. 31.
When is the August public holiday?
The public holiday marks the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, also known as Mawlid Al Nabawi.
The occasion is expected to fall on Tuesday, Aug. 25, but the UAE has moved the public holiday to Friday, Aug. 28 under its rules allowing certain holidays to be shifted to the start or end of the working week.
That gives residents a full three-day weekend without needing to use annual leave.
For many UAE residents, the timing also creates an opportunity for a short break, whether that means a local staycation, a family outing or a quick regional trip.
August holiday at a glance
- Holiday: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
- Public holiday: Friday, Aug. 28
- Weekend: Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30
- Work resumes: Monday, Aug. 31
- Break: Three consecutive days
Employees should follow their employer’s official holiday announcement for work schedules, particularly where companies operate on different weekly working patterns.
One more major holiday remains in 2026
The August break is followed by the final major public holiday period of the UAE’s 2026 calendar: Eid Al Etihad, marking the country’s National Day.
The holiday will fall on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 2-3.
Since those dates are followed by the Friday-Saturday weekend, employees who have those days off could have a four-day break from Wednesday through Saturday.
Can UAE public holidays be moved?
Under the UAE’s public holiday framework, certain official holidays can be transferred to the beginning or end of the working week through a Cabinet decision.
The provision is intended to help organize the holiday calendar and create longer breaks where applicable. It does not mean every public holiday that falls on a weekend is automatically carried over to another working day.
The rules also provide scope for local governments to approve additional holidays for their own departments on special occasions.
For August, however, the key date for residents is straightforward: Friday, Aug. 28 is the public holiday, followed by the Saturday-Sunday weekend.
With the next working day falling on Monday, Aug. 31, residents have a three-day window to make plans without taking annual leave.
