UAE Confirms Monday 15 June as Official Public Holiday for Hijri New Year 1448

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Next UAE public holiday: June 15 for Hijri New Year 1448 - full 2026 and 2027 holiday calendar inside.

The UAE has confirmed Monday, 15 June 2026, as an official paid public holiday for Hijri New Year 1448 AH, applying to both the federal government and the private sector.
FAHR and MoHRE issued coordinated circulars on 3 June 2026, confirming that official working hours will resume on Tuesday, 16 June.
Employees on a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule will enjoy a three-day weekend; those in Sharjah under its four-day workweek will have four consecutive days off.
The paid holiday entitlement for private sector employees is grounded in Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024 and Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021.
Remaining 2026 holidays include the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Birthday (~25 Aug) and National Day (2-3 Dec); approximate 2027 dates are listed in full below.
The UAE fixed the holiday on 15 June using the Cabinet's authority to transfer holidays; astronomical calendars generally place 1 Muharram 1448 on 16 or 17 June.

The MoHRE Announcement and UAE's Public Holiday Framework

The UAE has confirmed Monday, 15 June 2026, as an official paid public holiday to mark Islamic New Year 1448 AH - the first day of Muharram on the Hijri calendar. The announcement was issued jointly by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) on 3 June, covering both the federal government and the private sector nationwide.

Underpinning the announcement is Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, which came into force on 1 January 2025 and unified the public holiday calendar across both sectors. Hijri New Year - 1 Muharram - is listed in that resolution as a one-day official holiday. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 provides the labour law framework, making the paid day off a legal entitlement for private sector workers.

What the June 15 Holiday Covers

Both FAHR and MoHRE confirmed 15 June 2026 as the designated holiday date through circulars issued on 3 June. The circulars state that official working hours will resume on Tuesday, 16 June. For employees working a Monday-to-Friday schedule - now standard across most of the UAE - the holiday creates a three-day break spanning Saturday 13 June, Sunday 14 June and Monday 15 June.

In Sharjah, where government and many private sector workers observe a four-day week with Friday included as a rest day, the break extends to four consecutive days. Under Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, the UAE retains the authority to transfer official holidays to align them with weekends. Many Islamic calendar systems place 1 Muharram 1448 AH on 16 or 17 June 2026; the UAE's 15 June designation reflects that administrative flexibility.

Muharram is one of the four sacred months in the Islamic calendar and holds particular significance for Muslims. The month opens with Hijri New Year and culminates on the tenth day with Ashura, expected around 26 June 2026. Ashura is not a UAE public holiday, but some employees may seek annual leave for personal observance, and HR teams should be prepared for such requests.

UAE Public Holidays: What's Left in 2026 and 2027

Three further holiday occasions remain on the 2026 calendar. Looking ahead, the table below also sets out the full expected holiday schedule for 2027. All Hijri-based dates are approximate and subject to official Cabinet confirmation closer to each occasion.

Holiday	Expected Date	Days Off	Notes
— 2026 —
Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Birthday	Tue 25 Aug 2026	1	Approx - subject to official confirmation
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad)	Wed-Thu, 2-3 Dec 2026	2	Fixed date - 55th anniversary of federation
— 2027 —
New Year's Day	Fri 1 Jan 2027	1	Fixed date
Eid al-Fitr	~8-10 Mar 2027	3	Subject to moon sighting; date approximate
Arafat Day	~14 May 2027	1	Subject to moon sighting; date approximate
Eid al-Adha	~15-17 May 2027	3	Subject to moon sighting; date approximate
Hijri New Year 1449	~4 Jun 2027	1	Subject to official confirmation
Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Birthday	~Aug 2027	1	Subject to moon sighting; date approximate
UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad)	Thu-Fri, 2-3 Dec 2027	2	Fixed date

What Employers and HR Teams Need to Check

Private sector firms under MoHRE jurisdiction must treat 15 June 2026 as a paid day off, and any employees required to work must be compensated under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. Firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) generally observe national holidays in practice, though zone employment law is the applicable legal basis rather than the mainland Labour Law. Domestic workers, governed by a separate statute, are not automatically covered by the national public holiday list.

What Clients are Asking their Advisors

What is Hijri New Year and why does the UAE observe it as a public holiday?

Hijri New Year marks the first day of Muharram - the opening month of the Islamic lunar calendar - and commemorates the Hijra, the Prophet Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. The UAE designates it as an official one-day public holiday under Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, applying it equally to the public and private sectors.

Can UAE employers require staff to work on 15 June 2026?

Yes, if operational requirements demand it - but proper compensation is required. Under Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, employees asked to work on an official public holiday are entitled to a day off in lieu or a pay supplement. Employers cannot treat the day as a normal working day without consequence.

Does the June 15 holiday apply to employees working in UAE free zones such as DIFC?

DIFC and ADGM operate under their own employment regulations, separate from the federal Labour Law, but both zones align with the national public holiday calendar in practice. Employers in those zones should review any circulars from their free zone authority alongside the federal FAHR and MoHRE announcements to confirm local requirements.

Do domestic workers in the UAE get 15 June as a day off?

Not automatically. Domestic workers are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, which provides entitlements to weekly rest days and paid annual leave but does not explicitly extend national public holidays as a separate right. Employers should check their employment contracts and are encouraged to grant time off on major public holidays as a matter of good practice.