The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) have announced that Monday, June 15, 2026, is a federal government holiday and also a public holiday for the private sector, to celebrate the Hijri New Year 1448. A day of rest is observed throughout. All employees in the UAE, private and public, are granted the day. For Muslim Pakistanis it is not just a respite from the weekly ritual, but a completely new experience. It’s the beginning of a new year altogether.
What does the Hijra commemorate?
The Hijri New Year marks the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from the city of Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, the birth of the Islamic lunar calendar. The migration is called the ‘Hijra’ and it is where the Islamic new year gets its name. The first day of Muharram, the first month, is not just a date. It is a reference for an entire civilisational history, and one of the four blessed months mentioned in the Quran. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) called it the month of Allah, the month in which good deeds are multiplied. It is the time when the believers are encouraged not to fall in conflicts or commit sin.
For practicing Muslims, the new Hijri year is a time of spiritual introspection, re-affirmation and gratitude. The month also holds more significance. The Day of Ashura is expected to be observed on June 25, 2026 which is the 10th of Muharram. It is the day on which Allah saved Prophet Musa and the Israelites from Pharaoh. On this day, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged fasting, as a form of gratitude. The Hijri New Year, then, is not of its own. It begins with a very special month.
Hijri New Year: Quiet by Tradition
The Hijri New Year is not celebrated in the same manner as the Gregorian New Year in which the sky lights up with fireworks and crowds gather in the city center. This holiday is observed instead of celebrated and festivities are kept to a minimum. In keeping with the past practice in the Muslim world, no government-organised function or any special festivities have been announced for the Hijri New Year 1448.
Unlike the Gregorian New Year’s where fireworks were used, the Hijri New Year is a time for spiritual introspection and remembrance of history. But the occasion is also observed in Dubai with fireworks displays, eating deals and other Dubai events, as most venues and hospitality businesses go about celebrating the long weekend in their own way. The city’s typical selection of restaurants, beaches, and leisure activities can be enjoyed by residents who wish to make the best of the holiday break.
Three-Day Break for Everyone
This year’s Hijri New Year is favourable for the residents. In line with UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on public holidays, the public holidays, apart from Eid, can be moved to the start or end of the week. The UAE public holiday is shifted to Monday, June 15 as the official date is Tuesday, June 16. The holiday, along with the weekend, will provide a clean Saturday to Monday break for the whole country.
The Hijri New Year has no religious significance to the UAE’s big expatriate non-Muslim community. But it provides what all residents can count on: an unexpected long weekend. The three days are for all, whether it’s a staycation or a short trip or a slower morning at home. The celebration begins for Muslim residents on the Hijri New Year with prayer, introspection and a quiet dignity of starting a new year. For all others, it’s an additional day of leisure, family bonding, and a chance to rest before the week resumes.
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