Earlier this week, the UAE government announced that Muharram 1, 1439, will be observed as a holiday for both public and private sector.

The Hijri New Year holiday will be observed on Thursday, September 21, the Federal Authority For Government Human Resources announced on Tuesday.

The private sector, too, will observe a holiday on the same day, the Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation announced.

The decision was taken as per the guidance of the council of ministers.



Earlier this week, the UAE government announced that Muharram 1, 1439, will be observed as a holiday for both public and private sectors.



The announcement was made with a circular on the basis of the provisions of the executive regulations of Federal Law No. 11 of 2008 on human resources in the federal government and its amendments.



Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, extended his sincerest greetings and blessings to the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council, and the Rulers of the Emirates.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department of the Government of Dubai released the calendar for Hijri 1439.



According to the calendar, the first day of Muharram 1439 will be September 21, 2017 (click here for the calendar).



The UAE has also launched a unified Hijri calendar ahead of the new Islamic year, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced.



Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, and Chairman of chairman of the Board of trustees of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, told a press conference on Tuesday that the unified Hijri calendar was based on Shariah and astronomical principles.



"The project is a result of three years of comparative field studies and review of industry best practices by a group of UAE, Arab and Islamic scholars, and specialists in physics, space and astronomy, specialised committees and work groups," he said.



"The project will cover all emirates, taking into consideration sharia conditions and scientific results that affect calculation of prayer timings," he stated, while unveiling the Hijri calendar of 1439 at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.