The Egyptian government has officially declared Thursday, June 18, 2026, as a public holiday to mark the Islamic Hijri New Year, corresponding to the first day of Muharram 1448 AH. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, according to the State Information Service (SIS), Egypt's official media authority.
Crescent Moon Sighting Scheduled
The country's Dar Al-Iftaa, the Islamic council responsible for issuing fatwas, is expected to sight the crescent moon for Muharram on Monday, June 15, 2026, which corresponds to the 29th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. This sighting will confirm the beginning of the new lunar year. The Hijri New Year commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's migration, or Hijra, from Mecca to Medina, now 1,448 lunar years ago.
Scope of the Holiday
The public holiday applies to all employees in ministries, government agencies, local councils, and the public business sector. However, scheduled examinations will proceed as planned, following timetables set by relevant authorities, as reported by Ahram Online. The decree specifies that the holiday replaces the Gregorian date corresponding to the first day of Muharram, subject to the official religious sighting.
Egypt, a predominantly Muslim nation, observes the Hijri calendar, which is based on lunar cycles. Because the lunar year is shorter than the solar year, the Hijri New Year shifts backward by about 10 to 11 days each Gregorian year. For accurate date conversion between the Hijri and Gregorian calendars, online tools using the official Umm al-Qura calendar, primarily used in Saudi Arabia, are available.
Regional Context
This announcement follows a similar declaration by Jordan's Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, who designated Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as a public holiday for the Islamic New Year. The Jordanian holiday applies to ministries, government departments, public institutions, universities, municipalities, and wholly government-owned companies, with exemptions for essential services. Jordan's circular also urged government entities to highlight the significance of the Islamic New Year.
The Egyptian government's decision underscores the importance of the Hijri New Year in the Islamic world and ensures that public sector employees can observe the occasion while maintaining essential services like examinations.
