The UAE has declared Friday, September 5, 2025 , a paid holiday for private sector employees to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The holiday creates a three-day weekend and encourages Muslims to observe the day with prayers, fasting, and Quran recitation.
Dubai: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has officially declared Friday, September 5, 2025 , as a paid public holiday for private sector employees across the UAE. The occasion marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The announcement means that private sector employees will enjoy a three-day weekend, as the holiday falls on a Friday and coincides with the regular Saturday–Sunday weekend.
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Earlier this year, the UAE authorities had also confirmed that federal government employees would receive a holiday on the same day. With MoHRE’s announcement, both federal and private sector workers will now benefit from the extended weekend.
This unified declaration reflects the UAE’s practice of aligning public and private sector holidays, ensuring employees across the country enjoy the same national observances.
Known as Mawlid Al-Nabi, the Prophet’s birthday is considered one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Mecca in 570 AD, though the exact Gregorian date of his birth remains unclear. Muslims observe the Prophet’s birthday on the 12th day of Rabi Al Awwal, the third month of the Islamic lunar year.
The day is regarded not as a festival but as a spiritual observance. Muslims are encouraged to engage in acts of worship, including fasting, reading the Quran, and remembering the teachings of the Prophet. Communities also reflect on his life and his role as a Messenger of God who shaped Islamic history.
In the UAE, the Prophet’s Birthday is marked with prayers, family gatherings, and community-focused events. While it is not a celebratory holiday in the conventional sense, many Muslims use the day for spiritual reflection and charitable deeds.
Public celebrations are generally modest, with emphasis on personal devotion and religious remembrance rather than festivities.
The UAE issues its official list of public holidays every year for both federal and private sector employees. Religious holidays such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and Mawlid Al-Nabi are determined based on the Islamic lunar calendar, while national events such as Commemoration Day and National Day are observed according to the Gregorian calendar.
This year’s Prophet’s Birthday holiday provides employees with a long weekend, giving them time for both rest and spiritual observance.
The UAE consistently highlights the importance of preserving Islamic traditions while embracing its multicultural identity. Declaring official holidays for key Islamic occasions ensures that Muslims living and working in the country have the opportunity to reflect, worship, and spend time with family.
For the Prophet’s Birthday in particular, the holiday reinforces the spiritual values of compassion, peace, and devotion—qualities that the Prophet embodied and which continue to inspire Muslims worldwide.
