Public holiday for Prophet's birthday moved

Holiday pushed back because the date falls between two working days.

The public holiday to mark the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday has been moved to Thursday, February 17, according to officials.

All schools and federal ministries and departments will be closed that day to mark the Mawlid al Nabawi. The date corresponds to the 14th of Rabea’ al Awwal according to the Islamic, Hijri calendar.

Although the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday this year is on Tuesday, February 15 – the 12th of Rabea’ al Awwal – the public holiday was moved to Thursday as the original date falls between two working days, according to a statement on WAM, the state news agency.

In accordance, Valentine’s Day this year, which falls on Monday, February 14 and coincides with the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, has been declared a dry night according to circulars sent from the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority to hotels across the country.

From sundown on Monday until sundown on Tuesday, no alcohol will be served.

The public holiday announcement was confirmed via a circular issued by Humaid Mohammed Obaid al Qattami, Minister of Education and chairman of the Board of the Federal Authority for Human Resources.