UAE Hijri New Year 2026 Holiday Announced for Monday, June 15
By Chris
The UAE has announced **Monday, June 15, 2026**, as an official public holiday to mark the **Hijri New Year 1448 AH**.
The holiday applies to employees in both the federal government and private sector, giving many residents a three-day break when combined with the Saturday-Sunday weekend.
Hijri New Year, also known as Islamic New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar and falls on **1 Muharram**. In the UAE, it is listed as a one-day official holiday under the country’s public holiday framework.
## Official holiday confirmed for June 15
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that Monday, June 15, 2026, will be an official holiday for Hijri New Year.
This means employees working a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule will return to work on Tuesday, June 16, after enjoying a long weekend from Saturday, June 13 to Monday, June 15.
Residents can check official updates through the [UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/), [MOHRE](https://www.mohre.gov.ae/) and the [Federal Authority for Government Human Resources](https://www.fahr.gov.ae/).
## What is Hijri New Year?
Hijri New Year marks the start of a new year in the Islamic calendar.
The Hijri calendar begins from the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah to Madinah, known as the Hijrah. This event holds major significance in Islamic history.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hijri calendar follows the lunar cycle. This is why Islamic dates move each year on the Gregorian calendar.
## Will UAE residents get a long weekend?
Yes, many UAE residents are expected to get a three-day break.
Since the holiday falls on Monday, June 15, people who usually have Saturday and Sunday off will get:
- Saturday, June 13 - Sunday, June 14 - Monday, June 15
Work is expected to resume on Tuesday, June 16, unless an employee’s company or sector follows a different schedule.
## Why the holiday matters
Hijri New Year is a time of reflection, prayer and new beginnings for many Muslims.
Unlike Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it is usually observed in a quieter way. Many families use the day to spend time together, reflect on the year ahead and mark the beginning of Muharram.
For UAE residents, the holiday also provides a short break after the Eid Al Adha period and gives families an opportunity to plan staycations, short trips or quiet time at home.
## What residents should keep in mind
Residents planning travel, hotel bookings or family activities around the holiday should check working hours for government offices, schools, banks and private businesses.
Some services may operate on holiday timings, while malls, hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions are likely to remain busy during the long weekend.
For official updates, residents should follow UAE government channels and employer announcements.
## Why this matters
The confirmation of the Hijri New Year holiday gives UAE residents and businesses clarity for planning the next public holiday.
For employees, it creates a three-day weekend. For families, it offers a chance to rest or travel. For businesses, it helps with staffing, operations and customer service planning during the holiday period.
## Source Credits
Information source/resource owners: Khaleej Times, Gulf Business, UAE Government Portal, MOHRE, FAHR, UAE Legislation.