Private sector employees across the UAE will have a day off to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Pawan Singh / The National
Private sector employees across the UAE will have a day off to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Pawan Singh / The National
Private sector employees across the UAE will have a day off to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Pawan Singh / The National
Private sector employees across the UAE will have a day off to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Pawan Singh / The National

UAE

UAE private sector holiday announced for the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

The day is marked by observance rather than celebration, with festivities kept to a minimum

The National

September 18, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Private sector employees in the UAE will have a long weekend at the end of the month as Friday, September 29, marks the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that Friday, 29 September, 2023 (14 Rabi Al Awwal 1445H) is a paid public holiday for private sector employees to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him)," the message said.

"On this auspicious occasion, we extend our heartfelt greetings to the UAE leadership, citizens and residents."

Earlier, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources confirmed public sector workers would be granted a public holiday on the same day.

The holiday is marked by observance rather than celebration, with festivities kept to a minimum.

The public and private sectors in the Emirates typically have the same holidays.

  • Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus celebrate the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed's birth. All photos: AFP
    Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus celebrate the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed's birth. All photos: AFP
  • Muslims at a rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
    Muslims at a rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to celebrate Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed.
  • Palestinians burn incense as they celebrate the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, in the West Bank city of Nablus.
    Palestinians burn incense as they celebrate the Prophet Mohammed's birthday, in the West Bank city of Nablus.
  • Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus gather to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed.
    Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus gather to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed.
  • Prayers are held to observe the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed in the courtyard of Al Nouri mosque, Mosul, Iraq.
    Prayers are held to observe the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed in the courtyard of Al Nouri mosque, Mosul, Iraq.
  • Yemeni girls take part in a ceremony celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's brithday in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
    Yemeni girls take part in a ceremony celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's brithday in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
  • Syrians gather at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the eve of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
    Syrians gather at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the eve of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
  • Syrians pray at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
    Syrians pray at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
  • The illuminated Faisal mosque in Islamabad during celebrations marking Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
    The illuminated Faisal mosque in Islamabad during celebrations marking Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
  • Syrians gather in the Old City of Damascus on the eve of celebrations marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, known in Arabic as the 'Mawlid al-Nabawi' holiday.
    Syrians gather in the Old City of Damascus on the eve of celebrations marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed, known in Arabic as the 'Mawlid al-Nabawi' holiday.
  • An aerial picture shows Iraqi Kurds gathering in Nowruz Square in the northern city of Dohuk on the eve of celebrations marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
    An aerial picture shows Iraqi Kurds gathering in Nowruz Square in the northern city of Dohuk on the eve of celebrations marking the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
  • Children gather to celebrate Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
    Children gather to celebrate Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
  • Lights and decorations adorn the remains of the war-ravaged Al Nouri mosque in Mosul, Iraq.
    Lights and decorations adorn the remains of the war-ravaged Al Nouri mosque in Mosul, Iraq.
  • The holiday is marked by observance rather than celebration, with festivities kept to a minimum.
    The holiday is marked by observance rather than celebration, with festivities kept to a minimum.
  • Thousands of people attend events to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday in Mosul, Iraq.
    Thousands of people attend events to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday in Mosul, Iraq.

While some of the longest breaks have already taken place this year, people can still enjoy some time off to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday and National Day.

In November last year, the UAE Cabinet confirmed the dates of the country's holidays for public and private sector staff.

The government announced in 2019 that private sector employees would have the same number of holidays as government staff.

At the time, the government said the move aimed to achieve balance between the two sectors and support the national economy. Previously, public sector employees had more days off than those who worked for private companies.

Remaining holidays for 2023

September 29: the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

December 2 and 3: UAE National Day

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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

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The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.

The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
 

Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

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1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

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