FAHR and MoHRE, reported by Aletihad
Hijri New Year closure on 15 June
Confirmed · Scope: public · Checked 2026-09-12
Announced closure for federal entities and private establishments; no claim about the lunar anniversary.
Islamic New Year in the UAE
2026 observance date
Estimated / awaiting confirmation
About Islamic New Year
Islamic New Year begins on 1 Muharram, the opening day of the Hijri calendar. In the UAE, the religious date and the announced day off can differ. This guide keeps the two roles separate: selecting a year shows the stored observance estimate alongside the applicable closure, without treating a transferred day off as a different festival.
Public holiday / closure dates
- — Single of holiday period · Confirmed — source checked
- — Observance only (not a public holiday) · Observance date · Estimated / awaiting confirmation Retained lunar observance estimate only; the announced public closure is recorded separately. Not an additional day off.
Bank, office and school arrangements require the applicable authority or institution notice. Missing scope data does not mean open.
Next supported occurrence
Sunday, 6 June 2027 · Estimated / awaiting confirmation
Next listed holiday day on or after today; this can be a closure day rather than the festival date.
2027 dates
- — Single of holiday period · Observance dateEstimated / awaiting confirmation
2028 dates
- — Single of holiday period · Observance dateEstimated / awaiting confirmation
Official sources and date status
Recorded confirmation and independent source review are shown separately. An institution-specific notice does not establish closure for every employer or school.
Calendar editorial review
Stored lunar projection: annual confirmation pending
Pending Review · Scope: observance
Existing projection retained; not an official lunar determination.
UAE Cabinet
Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024: recurring holiday framework
Pending Review · Scope: public
Recurring dates and durations; future lunar projections need annual confirmation. Full document retrieval returned 403 in this continuation; indexed official schedule corroborates the saved framework.
Office arrangements
For 2026, the announced federal-government and private-sector holiday was Monday, 15 June. The previous 16 June projection is retained only as an unconfirmed observance, not a second public holiday. Future entries remain estimates; a Monday closure in 2026 is not a formula for subsequent years.
Bank arrangements
Check the bank notice for staffed services and settlement deadlines around the announced day off. The religious date alone does not establish a branch timetable. Digital availability and completion of a transaction can follow different schedules.
School arrangements
Confirm attendance with the school and its academic calendar. A public day off does not establish a longer summer break or a universal return date across curricula. Where an institution announces a different schedule, use that specific notice.
History
The Hijri calendar takes its era from the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. It is a lunar calendar, so its months move through the Gregorian seasons. Islamic New Year is distinct from the civil new year on 1 January. The two occasions have separate identities, even though both mark the beginning of a calendar year.
Why it matters
The beginning of Muharram offers an occasion for reflection. For families and workplaces, its practical significance also depends on the announced holiday and the normal weekend. The calendar preserves that distinction so a planner can count days away from work without claiming that a scheduling decision determines the religious date.
Observance
Observance varies between households and communities. There is no universal event programme established by a holiday listing. Consult local organisers for gatherings, and distinguish the timing of an activity from the official day off. An estimated Gregorian observance remains provisional until the competent authority determines the lunar date.
Travel and planning
Use the closure date when calculating leave and the observance date when identifying the occasion. The planner allows a weekend assumption, but that choice does not add an official substitute day. Check annual notices before committing to dates still marked estimated.
Frequently asked questions
Is the holiday always on the Gregorian observance date?
No. An announced closure can differ from the lunar observance.
What was the 2026 day off?
Monday, 15 June was announced for federal entities and the private sector.
Is 16 June also a public holiday in this calendar?
No. The old projection is retained as an unconfirmed observance only.
Are 2027 and 2028 final?
No. Their lunar projections remain estimated pending official review.
View all United Arab Emirates public holidays 2026