The UAE Astronomy Centre marked the arrival of the new Islamic year, 1448 AH, with a rare daytime sighting of the Muharram crescent. Captured by the Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 15, the moon was documented sitting 5.4 degrees from the sun with an age of just over five hours. This celestial event coincides with the start of the Hijri calendar, which relies on lunar cycles rather than the standard Gregorian system to dictate the beginning of each month.

In celebration of the Hijri New Year, many residents across the UAE enjoyed an extended break. While most workers received a public holiday on Monday, creating a three-day weekend, some in Sharjah benefited from a four-day reprieve due to their standard Friday-to-Sunday weekend structure. To accommodate the festivities, Dubai authorities announced free public parking throughout the city for the holiday, with regular paid parking tariffs scheduled to resume on Tuesday, June 16.