Employees across the UAE may soon enjoy an extended break, with the public holiday marking Prophet Mohammed’s birthday potentially shifting to create a long weekend later this month.
Calendar forecasts place the occasion on Tuesday, August 25. Under a relatively new legal mechanism, though, the day off could instead be observed on Monday, August 24, linking it to the regular weekend and producing three consecutive days of rest for workers in both government and private roles.
The change hinges on UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, which permits authorities to shift certain public holidays to either the beginning or the conclusion of a working week. Not every holiday qualifies. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are specifically excluded from these adjustments, while occasions such as the Prophet’s birthday remain eligible for rescheduling through a Cabinet decision.
One condition applies: Article 3 of the resolution blocks any move when the holiday already overlaps with a separate public holiday or lands on a weekend. Since August 25 sits on a Tuesday this year, Monday remains open for the transfer to take effect. No shift becomes official, however, until the Cabinet formally rules on it.
Pay entitlements are protected regardless of the timing. Federal rules covering both government bodies and private companies guarantee eligible staff paid leave once a holiday is declared. Workers required to report for duty during a recognized public holiday must be given a substitute day off or extra compensation, which under current regulations amounts to their standard pay plus a minimum of 50 percent of their basic daily wage when no replacement leave is offered.
The August break may not be the year’s only lengthy pause. National Day, celebrated annually on December 2 and 3 to mark the UAE’s founding in 1971, falls on a Wednesday and Thursday in 2026. Should authorities append Friday, December 4, employees would gain a five-day stretch away from work, known also as Eid Al Etihad, pushing the potential total of days off before year’s end to eight.
