Hijri New Year holiday: Oman declares three-day weekend

Muscat: Oman has declared a public holiday and a three-day weekend for the public sector to mark the Islamic New Year.

According to the state-run Oman News Agency (ONA), Sunday, June 29, 2025, will be an official holiday to commemorate the Hijri New Year, which marks the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Madinah and the start of Hijri year 1447.

Authorities extended their greetings, wishing peace and blessings for the new year.

The UAE has also announced a one-day paid holiday for the Hijri New Year on Friday, June 27, 2025, applicable to both public and private sectors, in observance of Hijri year 1447 AH.

The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, commemorates the migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, an event that marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. Though the occasion is not typically celebrated with the same scale as Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it remains an important date in the Islamic world and is recognized as a public holiday in the UAE.

In addition to the Islamic New Year, the next religious holiday on the horizon will be Mawlid Al Nabawi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, expected to be observed on Thursday, September 4, 2025. As with all Islamic holidays, the exact date will depend on the official moon-sighting and confirmation by relevant religious authorities in the UAE.