UAE public sector gets week off for Eid

HOLIDAY ANNOUNCED: UAE public sector workers are to get a week off to celebrate Eid. (Getty Images)

All public sector employees in the UAE will enjoy one week off work from next Monday to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, the government announced on Monday.

All ministries and federal government institutions will be closed from Sept. 29 until Oct. 5, according to a circular issued by Civil Service Commission Chairman Humaid Mohammed Al-Qattami, state news agency WAM reported.

Al-Qattami congratulated the people of the UAE and the Islamic World on the occasion.

The government has yet to announce a holiday for the private sector.

Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, will start on the Oct. 1 for countries that started Ramadan on Sept. 1.

Astronomical studies by the Emirates Astronomical Society (EAS) and the Islamic Crescent Observation Project (ICOP) revealed last week that the last day of Ramadan will fall on Sept. 30 and Eid will begin the following day.

Kuwait's Civil Services Commission has announced that the Eid Al-Fitr holiday is set from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

The labour ministry in Saudi Arabia has announced that employees of private companies are entitled to a minimum of four days each of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha holidays this year.

THE Eid Al-Fitr holidays for ministries and government departments in Qatar will start from Sept. 28 and end on Oct.r 6, it has been announced.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Eid Holidays
Posted by CJ, Dubai on Monday 29 September 2008 at 09:58 UAE time


I think it pretty odd , govt staff are given a week off starting from today ie 29th while Eid holidays for private staff will be decided when the moon is sighted.We are in essence now using nature to differentiate holidays...Guys give us a break this is not Disney land we all work as hard as everyone else.

Public sector Off for a week
Posted by fazal baig, Dubai, UAE on Thursday 25 September 2008 at 12:37 UAE time


We generally say that we learn from our mistakes, but for the past many years we have been seeing this happening and till now I fail to understand why only the public sector enjoy such long holidays. For me this is clear discremination. If somebody can give me a good reason why the private sector is being ignored and left to the mercy of the decision makers in private companies. Imagine while some enjoy their holidays and rest are working... come on guys wake up...

Holidays
Posted by kanchan, Dxb, UAE on Tuesday 23 September 2008 at 19:18 UAE time


no point... our college will give us only 2 days off!! :(

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