Dubai has announced that Monday, June 15, will be a public holiday for schools, universities, and private and public early childhood education centers to mark the Hijri New Year 1448.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai stated in its announcement that official educational activities will resume on Tuesday, June 16.

This announcement follows earlier declarations by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation that June 15 will be a public holiday for federal government entities and private sector companies.

The date is confirmed in accordance with the approved list of public holidays for 2026 issued by the UAE Cabinet. Regular working hours will resume on Tuesday, June 16. As the holiday falls on a Monday, employees who have Saturday and Sunday as their weekend will enjoy a three-day break.

For some residents, the holiday will result in an even longer weekend. Government employees and students in Sharjah, who operate on a four-day work week with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, will benefit from a four-day consecutive break with the addition of the Monday public holiday.

The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. The occasion falls on the first day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the Hijri calendar, and its date is determined based on the official sighting of the crescent moon on the 29th day of each Hijri month.

On 29 Dhu al-Hijjah, which corresponds to June 15, if the crescent moon is sighted, the new month of Muharram will begin the following day, Tuesday, June 16.

If the crescent moon is not sighted on June 15, the month of Dhu al-Hijjah will complete 30 days, and Wednesday, June 17, will be the first day of Muharram.