Employees across the UAE’s public and private sectors will pause work on Monday, June 15, as the country observes the start of the Islamic year 1448 AH, an official holiday that extends the regular weekend into a three-day break.
The day off was confirmed Wednesday by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR), which said federal staff would not report to work on Monday in recognition of the new Hijri year.
Because the holiday lands directly after Saturday and Sunday, staff in both sectors will have three consecutive days away from the office, with operations resuming Tuesday, June 16.
The date opens the Islamic lunar calendar and recalls the Hijra — the journey of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Mecca to Medina. Recognized as a public holiday in the UAE and throughout much of the Muslim world, it is generally a time for quiet religious reflection rather than festivities, though it remains a significant marker in the Islamic calendar.
