Islamic New Year holiday 2024 – dates announced for UAE private sector

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that private sector workers will be granted a public holiday on Sunday to mark the Islamic New Year. The Islamic, or Hijri New Year, heralds the beginning of Muharram, the first of 12 months on the Islamic calendar.

While the holiday is expected to be observed on Sunday, it will be officially confirmed by the country’s moon-sighting committee. As with other Islamic holidays, the first day of Muharram changes yearly based on the lunar cycle.