August 26, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: As citizens anticipate the upcoming Rabi Al-Awwal moon sighting, excitement builds for the coming public holiday. This holiday also marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid Al-Nabi), making it even more notable.

The UAE’s Federal Authority of Human Resources and KHDA eagerly await the glimpse of the Rabi Al-Awwal moon before declaring the 12th day of Rabi Al-Awwal as a public holiday. Depending on the observation, the holiday could align with a long weekend, affecting travel, school calendars, and workplaces.

Sighting Significance of Rabi Al-Awwal Moon

In the Islamic culture, months like Rabi Al-Awwal commence when the new moon (hilal) is sighted. In the year 2025, the preceding Islamic month of Safar ended without the sighting of a crescent. It initiated the start of Rabi Al-Awwal on August 25.

This sighting of the Rabi Al-Awwal moon is significant as it decides when Mawlid Al-Nabi, the birth of Prophet Muhammad, will commence. The 12th day of Rabi Al-Awwal will be marked as a public holiday, which could either be September 4(Thursday) or September 5 (Friday).

For Muslims across the globe, Prophet Muhammad’s birth is not just a day of celebration but transcends further to communal gatherings, introspection, and penance. Religious spaces, institutions, and cultural centers arrange mass recitations of the Prophet’s teachings, charitable events, and communal feasts.

Long Incoming Weekend: What to Expect?

If the public holiday is on September 5, a Friday-Sunday weekend is suitable for family getaways and short leisure trips. Instead of the above decision, if it falls on September 4, the decision can go two ways.

Either the government would shift the holiday to Friday or grant a Thursday-Saturday break, which is more preferable. The government of the UAE regulates the holiday law (except Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha) to realign schedules and increase rest days.

Further Planning: What This Means For the Residents

Workplaces and academic institutions should stay vigilant over the course of a few days, as declarations about the moon sightings will be announced by the national or regional committees. Families and commuters can begin choosing itinerary options, whether for a short leisurely vacation or trip, maintaining elasticity in case the holiday date shifts. 

For the Human Resources Department, determining the public holiday shifts based on the lunar calendar is necessary, especially when cooperating with staffing services across both public and private domains.

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Brief Understanding of the Islamic Calendar and Its Characteristics

The Islamic calendar itself follows the lunar pattern, making sightseeing-based holidays comprehensively integrated. Territorial and topographical differences can lead to a moon visible in one country but not the next, affecting holiday declarations. 

Because of this variety, the authorities of the UAE wait for the approval by sighting committees or via calculated nuances if the Rabi Al-Awwal moon remains unseen after 30 days.

In several Islamic countries, committees of renowned scholars, astronomers, and leaders combine technology and traditional practices to announce the advent of a new month.

Rabi Al-Awwal moon sighting is also a sense of spirituality and a unified notion among the citizens of the UAE who anticipate announcements, turn to live broadcasts, or follow social media updates about the observation of the crescent.

The forthcoming holiday related to the Rabi Al-Awwal moon is more than a sighting; it transcends the observational aspect to be a sacred and religious commemoration based on beliefs. If the glimpse confirms itself on September 4, it leads to a mid-week shift, but if confirmed on September 5, it could stretch to three days. 

Be aware of the official announcements, plan for your personal and work responsibilities, and anticipate the need for a serene moment of spiritual introspection or a family gathering, whichever way is suitable to you.

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