If your usual weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, the UAE’s upcoming Prophet Muhammad’s PBUH Birthday public holiday may leave you wondering whether you are entitled to an extra day off.
The occasion falls on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, but the UAE Cabinet has moved the corresponding public holiday for the private and public sectors to Friday, August 28, 2026.
That means some employees will see the public holiday coincide with their regular weekly rest day. So, does that mean you automatically get another paid day off?
Not necessarily! Under the UAE’s current employment rules, an employee whose regular weekly rest day coincides with a public holiday is not automatically entitled to a substitute rest day, provided they do not work on the public holiday. Here’s what UAE employees need to know.
When Is the Prophet’s PBUH Birthday Public Holiday in 2026?
The Islamic occasion marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) falls on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. However, under the UAE’s public holiday arrangements, the Cabinet can transfer certain public holidays to the beginning or end of the week.
For 2026, the Prophet’s Birthday holiday has been moved to: Friday, August 28, 2026. This creates a potential issue for employees whose regular weekly days off are Friday and Saturday.
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What If Friday Is Already Your Weekly Day Off?
Imagine you work in Dubai and your company’s normal working week gives you Friday and Saturday off. Friday, August 28 is already your scheduled weekly rest day, but it is also the official public holiday. You might therefore expect your employer to provide another paid day off during the following week.
However, the UAE Employment Law does not automatically require an employer to provide a replacement day in this situation if the employee simply observes the public holiday and does not work.
In other words, a public holiday falling on your existing weekly rest day does not automatically create an additional day of leave under the rule discussed here.
What Does UAE Employment Law Say?
Article 28 of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations states that employees are entitled to official holidays determined by the Cabinet with full pay. The same article also addresses employees who are required to work during an official holiday.
If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they must receive either a substitute rest day for each day worked or their normal day’s wage plus an additional payment of at least 50 per cent of their basic wage for that day. This distinction is important. The substitute rest day provision applies when an employee works during the public holiday. It does not automatically mean that every employee whose normal weekly day off happens to coincide with a public holiday receives another day off.
So, Will You Get an Extra Day Off?
If Friday, August 28, 2026 is already your regular weekly rest day, and you are not required to work that day, your employer is generally not legally required to provide another substitute day off solely because the public holiday coincides with your weekend.
You would still receive the public holiday as a paid holiday, but there would not necessarily be an additional day added to your leave entitlement.
For example:
Regular days off: Friday and Saturday
Public holiday: Friday, August 28
Employee works on Friday: No
Automatic substitute day: No
However, your company’s own employment policies may provide a different arrangement.
Can Your Employer Give You Another Day Off?
Yes! Companies can introduce policies or employee benefits that are more favourable to workers than the minimum requirements established by UAE employment legislation.
So, an employer may decide to give employees a replacement day when a public holiday falls on their normal weekly rest day. This could depend on the company’s internal HR policy, employment contract or established workplace practice. That means employees who find themselves in this situation can check with their HR department to see whether their company provides a substitute day as an additional benefit.
What If You Are Asked to Work on the Public Holiday?
The situation changes if your employer requires you to work on Friday, August 28. Under Article 28 of the UAE Employment Law, employees working on an official holiday are entitled to compensation.
The employer must provide either:
- A substitute rest day, or
- The employee’s normal wage for the day plus an additional payment of at least 50 per cent of the basic wage.
So, if you are scheduled to work on the Prophet’s Birthday public holiday, the public-holiday compensation rules become particularly important.
Why the Date Was Moved
The UAE’s public holiday framework allows the Cabinet to transfer certain holidays to the beginning or end of the week. Article 2 of Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 concerning public holidays provides for this flexibility, with Eid holidays excluded from the provision.
For 2026, the Prophet’s Birthday falls on Tuesday, August 25, while the official holiday has been designated for Friday, August 28. This arrangement helps establish the official holiday date for employees and employers across the UAE.
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What Should Employees Do?
If your weekly days off are Friday and Saturday, there is no need to assume that you will automatically receive another paid day off.
Instead, check your company’s:
- HR policy
- Employment contract
- Public holiday policy
- Weekly working schedule
It is also worth asking your HR department directly whether the company offers a replacement day when a public holiday coincides with an employee’s scheduled weekly rest day. Some employers may offer benefits that go beyond the minimum requirements under UAE employment law.
The Bottom Line
The Prophet’s PBUH Birthday public holiday will be observed on Friday, August 28, 2026, after being transferred from Tuesday, August 25. If Friday is already your weekly rest day and you do not work on the public holiday, you are not automatically entitled to another substitute day off under the UAE employment provisions discussed above.
However, your employer can choose to provide a more favourable arrangement under its internal policies. If you are required to work on the public holiday, different compensation rules apply, including the possibility of a substitute rest day or additional pay.
So before planning an unexpected three-day weekend, check your company’s HR policy first, because whether you get that extra day may depend on your employer’s rules rather than the public holiday itself.
This article is intended for general information and should not be treated as legal advice. Employment rights can depend on individual circumstances, contracts and applicable UAE regulations. Employees with specific employment disputes should seek advice from a qualified legal professional or the relevant UAE authority.
