Thursday, 08 January 2009
updated 1 minute ago
09:57 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

10-day holiday from Tuesday

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 30 November 2008

PUBLIC HOLIDAY: The public sector has been given 10 days off work from Tuesday. (Getty Images)

The UAE public sector has been given a 10 days off work to mark National Day, Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha, state news agency WAM reported on Sunday, citing a Civil Service Council circular.

WAM said federal ministries, department and entities would remain closed from Dec. 2 to Dec. 11.

UAE National day falls on Dec. 2 and marks 37 years since the United Arab Emirates was formed.

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Arafat Day falls on the 9th day of Dhu Al Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar. Arafat Day marks the second day of the Haj pilgrimage and the day after it is the start of Eid Al Adha.

Eid Al Adha is the Muslim feast of sacrifice marking the end of annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The festival lasts for two to three days or more depending on the country and starts on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijja.

READERS' COMMENTS

Balance Private & Government
Posted by A.L.S, Dubai on Wednesday 3 December 2008 at 09:20 UAE time

And this is one of the reasons why Emiratis are not willing to work in the private sector!!!! The Government should try and balance the benefits out between private & government!!! Then the whole problem of jobless Emiratis would be solved.

10 days holiday...what a joke
Posted by Syed Nizami, Dubai, UAE on Monday 1 December 2008 at 18:58 UAE time

If I look at this issue from a personal point of view then I fully agree with what Kazim has said. Why we in private sector are met with this step motherly treatment?

BUT if I look at it from mgmt's point of view, what about the effect of such a long holiday on our business. We are dependent on govt. bodies for so many things in our day to day lives that this long off period will have a huge impact on everything. I was hoping to get visas for couple of my new joinees who were suppose to fly into UAE and join me on 15 Dec. but now since everything is off, I'll have to wait for another week un-necesarily. Same goes for customs dept. I have got a shipment coming in and now I cannot get it on time, hence I will not be able meet my deadlines towards my customers.

Can someone pls think about these issues before declaring these kind of long breaks.

Where is human equality?
Posted by Kazim Kirmani, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday 1 December 2008 at 06:58 UAE time

The gov't has announced a public sector holiday from 2-11 Dec. 12 and 13 Dec are public sector weekend, so effectively, the holidays are from 2-13 Dec, which is in total 12 DAYS off for anyone working in government departments!

On the other hand, only 2nd Dec has been declared as the day off for private sector, and they will get 1 day off for Arafat Day and 2 days off for Eid.

Where is the human equality here? Don't people in private sector deserve equal oppurtunity to celebrate National Day and Eid and have some quality time with their families?

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