As people across the UAE return to work after the long Eid Al Fitr weekend, many are already planning what to do for the next public holiday.
So, when is the next day off?
The good news is, you won’t have to wait too long.
Arafat Day is expected to fall on Sunday, July 18, meaning another long weekend is due.
This holiday is considered one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar and marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage.
If a three-day weekend in July doesn’t quite cut it for those looking for a little extra time off, the good news keeps coming. Eid Al Adha falls a day after Arafat, meaning residents in the public and private sector will probably get an additional three-day break, meaning a six-day weekend can be enjoyed.
Eid Al Adha is expected to fall on Monday, July 19, until Thursday, July 22.
Al Adha is Arabic for “the sacrifice”. The specific sacrifice this holiday is named after is explained in the Quran, which tells of how Prophet Ibrahim dreamt that God asked him to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.
Eid is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate, usually over a meal.
The day begins with early Eid prayers at a mosque and it is customary for a family to have a goat or sheep sacrificed at an abattoir.
Less than a month later, on August 12, people can expect another day off for Hijri New Year. The holiday falls on a Thursday, which means another long weekend.
Also referred to as the Islamic New Year, the day marks the beginning of a new lunar year.
The next public holiday is expected to fall about two months later, on October 21.
People across the country will get one working day off in October, for Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday. It is due to fall on a Thursday. And yes, you guessed it, that means another three-day weekend is in the pipeline.
Commemoration Day comes next, which is an observation day marked on December 1 in memory of Emirati martyrs.
The public holiday, previously known as Martyrs’ Day, was initially observed on November 30 but was formally changed in 2019.
The one-day holiday falls on a Wednesday this year, but will be combined with UAE National Day, which takes place on Thursday, December 2, and Friday, December 3.
With both public holidays clubbed together, people across all seven Emirates will wrap up the end of the year with a four-day weekend.
Author: The National News
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