The UAE has officially declared Monday, June 15, 2026, a public holiday for both public and private sector employees to mark the Islamic New Year 1448.

The announcement was made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, confirming a paid day off for workers across the country.

Normal working hours will resume on Tuesday, June 16.

As the holiday falls on a Monday, most employees who enjoy a Saturday-Sunday weekend will benefit from a three-day break.

For government employees in Sharjah, the holiday will create an even longer weekend. With the emirate’s four-day workweek already providing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off, the additional Monday holiday means a four-day break.

The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of a new year in the Islamic lunar calendar. It falls on the first day of Muharram, the opening month of the Hijri calendar, and is traditionally confirmed through official moon-sighting procedures.

The occasion is one of the UAE’s official public holidays and is observed by both government entities and private sector companies.

The announcement comes shortly after residents enjoyed the longest holiday period of the year during Eid Al Adha.

Earlier this month, government employees benefited from an extended nine-day break, while many private sector workers received up to six days off.

With June 15 now confirmed as a public holiday, UAE residents have another long weekend to look forward to before the summer holiday season gets underway.

Dubai’s private schools will face short-notice inspections from the 2026-27 academic year under a revamped quality assurance framework announced by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Under the new approach, schools will receive no more than 24 hours’ notice before inspectors arrive, marking a significant shift in how education quality is monitored across the emirate.

KHDA said the updated system will include two types of visits. Full inspections will be carried out by teams of specialist education experts, while shorter monitoring visits will focus on specific areas of school performance and quality assurance.

Return of formal inspection

The move signals the return of formal inspection activity after KHDA paused inspections during the 2025-26 academic year. At the time, the authority said the break would allow for greater collaboration with schools and a review of how educational quality is assessed and supported.

The new model aims to provide a more responsive and differentiated approach to evaluating schools, with visits designed to offer a clearer picture of day-to-day operations and educational standards.

Dubai’s private school sector serves hundreds of thousands of students across a wide range of international curricula, making quality assurance a key part of maintaining educational standards and supporting continuous improvement.

Further details on how the inspection and monitoring framework will operate are expected ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.

Patients travelling to Dubai for medical treatment could soon enjoy a faster and more seamless experience under a new partnership between the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

The two entities have signed an agreement aimed at streamlining medical visa procedures and improving the patient journey from arrival to recovery.

Under the partnership, healthcare and residency services will be more closely integrated, making it easier for international patients to access treatment in Dubai. The initiative will also strengthen coordination between visa processing, healthcare providers and insurance systems.

A key focus is on enhancing digital integration between the two organisations, allowing medical visa applications to be processed more efficiently through the Dubai Health Experience network.

Officials said the collaboration could pave the way for future innovations, including a smart medical visa and proactive digital services designed to support patients throughout their treatment journey.

Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA Dubai, said the partnership reflects Dubai’s vision of creating connected government services that put people first.

Meanwhile, Dr Alawi Sheikh Ali, Director General of the DHA, said health tourism is about more than medical care, adding that accessibility, convenience and quality of service are equally important parts of the patient experience.

The initiative supports Dubai’s broader ambitions to strengthen its position as a global healthcare and medical tourism destination while delivering faster, smarter and more integrated services for visitors seeking treatment in the emirate.