The Dubai Government had proclaimed that Sunday 15th September 2024 will be a government holiday for the celebration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H.). This message is delivered through a circular by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department to state that normal working days will resume on Monday, September 16, 2024.
It is a component of the series of events associated with the commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, also referred to as Mawlid al-Nabi, which is observed on the 12th day of Rabi’ Al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. This special day involves engaging in other religious activities in the Islamic countries and the United Arab Emirates inclusive.
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Public Services and Shift Workers
The circular clearly states that the holiday is not for employees of departments for public service or those who work on shifts. These departments encompass the management of basic public services and the proper functioning of public amenities; they will maintain normal business. The employees working in shifts will have their schedules changed by their specific department to ensure that operational efficiency is enhanced. This provision helps to ensure that essential public services that will require the attention of workers during the holiday period are not disrupted by their absence.
Private Sector Holiday
The public sector holiday was announced in the circular similar to the other circular to be released by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR). The FAHR circular was issued to all ministries and federal entities and clarified that the Prophet’s birthday will indeed be treated the same as a paid holiday in the federal system.
However, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced that Sunday, September 15, would be a paid holiday for UAE’s private sector workers. What this entails is that employees in both the private and public services shall be able to enjoy the day off in as much as this is a special occasion.
Importance of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday in Islamic World
In most Islamic countries including the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the celebration of the birth of the Prophet is on 12 Rabi’ Al-Awwal. This day is remembered in the Islamic calendar because Muslims around the world remember the teachings and life of the Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H. ) and celebrate his birthday in religious and communal gatherings.
This holiday is marked by prayers in mosques, recitations from the Quran and group meetings where people discuss the life and accomplishments of the Prophet Muhammad. They celebrate the holiday to remember the event but also because it allows families and communities to reunite.
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Upcoming Holidays in the UAE
After this holiday, the UAE residents can plan for another long holiday during the month of December that marks the National Day. The UAE National Day celebrations, which marks the unification of the seven emirates in 1971, are on Dec. 2 and 3 being Monday and Tuesday, respectively. When merged with the previous Saturday-Sunday weekend, people will be able to have the four-day holiday.
Public holidays which UAE celebrates annually include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and National Day which is in December; this ensures citizens and residents of the country have a chance to rejoice, show respect, and spend quality time with their family members.
The proclamation of September 15 as a public holiday spotlights the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth anniversary as an essential Islamic function in Dubai. On the other hand, most private and government staff will observe the day off, but essential public services will not be affected and will be effectively delivered to cater for the populace’s needs.