Islamic New Year: Will The UAE Get A Long Weekend?
The month of Dhull Hijjah is drawing to a close, signifying the end of the Islamic year 1445 AH. The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, is observed annually on the 1st of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. This year, it will fall on Sunday, July 7, and is considered an auspicious day in Islam.
The Hijri New Year originates from the Arabic word Al Hijra, meaning migration. It marks the day when Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) journeyed with his followers from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, which was crucial in establishing the first Muslim community.
The date of the Islamic New Year changes each year because it is based on the lunar calendar, which is about ten to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar's solar orbit. Consequently, each month in the Islamic calendar moves up by approximately ten days or more each year.
It remains unconfirmed when and if the public holiday for the Islamic New Year will take place in the UAE. According to Cabinet resolution No. 27 of 2024 regarding public holidays in the UAE, any official holidays listed in Article 1, excluding Eid holidays, "may be moved to the beginning or end of the week by a Cabinet decision."
Therefore, it is possible that The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) may announce Friday, July 5, or Monday, July 8, as a public holiday for this occasion. Last year, both public and private sector employees were granted a public holiday for Islamic New Year on Friday July 21 while Muharram 1 fell on July 19.
Meanwhile, Oman has announced 3-day holiday including Sunday, July 7, for employees of the public and private sectors on the occasion of the Islamic New Year.
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