The UAE marked Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday with a public holiday for public- and private-sector employees on 28 August. Essential-service workers remained subject to their employers’ operational schedules and applicable compensation rules.

The details

Friday, 28 August 2026 was designated as a public holiday for employees in both the UAE public and private sectors to mark Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday.

The holiday applied under the UAE’s official public-holiday framework. Employees in essential services such as healthcare, transport, security, facilities management and hospitality may still be required to work according to operational needs.

Under UAE labour rules, employees required to work on an official public holiday are generally entitled to a substitute day off or additional pay in accordance with the applicable employment legislation.

The holiday affected government-service hours, public transport schedules, schools, workplaces, retail operations and travel demand. Residents were advised to check individual authority and employer announcements for service timings.