The UAE has confirmed a one-day paid holiday on Sunday, July 7, 2024, for the Islamic New Year — marking Muharram 1 on the Hijri calendar and the start of the new year 1446 AH. The announcement covers employees across both the government and private sectors.
Public Sector Holiday Confirmed by FAGHR
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAGHR) was the first to announce the holiday, confirming that Monday — Muharram 1 on the Islamic lunar calendar — would be a paid day off for government employees. The exact date of July 7 remains subject to the official moon-sighting confirmation, as is standard for Islamic calendar observances in the UAE.
MoHRE Extends Holiday to Private Sector
A day later, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) issued its own announcement, confirming that private sector workers would also receive July 7 as a paid public holiday. The alignment of public and private sector holidays for Islamic New Year is consistent with the UAE's approach to national observances.
What Comes After Islamic New Year
The Islamic New Year holiday is one of several official public holidays remaining in 2024. Later in the year, residents can expect:
- A holiday marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) - National Day, which falls at the end of November and typically results in a long weekend
Beyond public holidays, UAE employees also receive a standard 30 days of annual leave per year.
Regional Alignment: Oman Also Declares July 7 Holiday
The UAE is not alone in observing this date. Neighbouring Oman similarly declared July 7 a public and bank holiday, meaning workers across the region will enjoy an extended break over the same period.
