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Astronomers in the UAE have successfully sighted the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year 1447 AH. The UAE Astronomy Center released a daytime image of the Muharram crescent on Thursday morning, captured from Abu Dhabi using advanced telescopes at the Al-Khatm Astronomical Observatory, which is affiliated with the International Astronomy Center.

The crescent was first spotted on Wednesday, June 25, in Saudi Arabia, and the UAE confirmed its local visibility shortly thereafter. According to the Astronomy Center, the image was taken at 8:45 AM UAE time on June 26, when the moon was 12 degrees away from the sun and had an age of 17 hours, making it visible with specialized equipment during the daytime.

With this confirmation, Muharram 1 — the first day of the Hijri calendar year — falls on Friday, June 27, 2025, marking the official start of Hijri year 1447 AH.

The end of the previous month, Dhul Hijjah, lasted 29 days, as confirmed by Haramain Info.

Long Weekend Holiday Announced

The UAE government has announced that private sector employees will enjoy a paid public holiday on Friday, June 27, in observance of the Islamic New Year. For those whose weekend includes Saturday and Sunday, the timing offers a 3-day weekend from June 27 to June 29, with regular work resuming on Monday, June 30.

The Hijri New Year holiday adds to a string of festive breaks enjoyed by UAE residents, continuing the tradition of honoring significant Islamic milestones with time for reflection, celebration, and rest.

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