Gulf states
have begun announcing holidays for this year’s Eid Al Fitr celebrations, with
Saudi government works enjoying up to 12 days off, one of the longest periods
in recent years.
“All
government employees are entitled to a period of Eid Al-Fitr holidays beginning
on July 10 (Friday), continuing through the weekend, and ending on July 21, to
spend this blessed time with their families,” an official from the Saudi Ministry
of Civil Services was quoted as saying in Arab News.
The Saudi private
sector has been awarded six days holidays, starting on July 16, the report
added.
According to
the Oman News Agency, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of
Royal Court and Chairman of the Civil Service Council confirmed announced that Eid Al Fitr 1436 AH holiday for employees at the ministries, public
authorities and other departments of the State Administrative Apparatus will start
from Thursday, 29 Ramadan 1436 AH corresponding to July 16, 2015 till the
end of Monday, July 20th, 2015. Work will be resumed on Tuesday, July 21st,
2015.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower
also announced that the Omani private sector will be awarded the same number of days off,
“The decision
allowed employers and employees to agree on work arrangements to compensate
this holiday, if necessity arises. The employees whose weekly off days coincide
with the mentioned holiday should be compensated as well,” the report said.
In Qatar, government
ministries, government institutions and public entities have been awarded up to
11 days off, with Eid al-Fitr holidays starting on Wednesday, July 15, with
work resuming on Sunday, July 26, the Qatar News Agency reported. The Qatar
private sector is likely to have three days off, Doha News reported.
In Kuwait, it
was reported in June that civil servants will likely get 10 days off with Eid
Al Fitr holidays starting on Saturday July 18, Arabic language daily Al Anba reported.
However, confirmation
of holidays in Kuwait and Bahrain have not yet been announced.
In the UAE, it
was reported on Sunday that private sector workers will get paid holidays for
Eid Al Fitr starting on the first and second day of Shawwal, with work set to
resume on the third day of Shawwal of the year 1436 AH, according to a
ministerial circular issued by the Minister of Labour, Saqr Ghubash.
This means if
Eid Al Fitr is officially declared on Friday then workers will have the weekend
off, with work resuming as normal on Sunday, July 19. However, should Eid Al
Fitr fall on Saturday then Sunday will be a holiday and work will resume on
Monday, July 20.
The UAE
official moon sighting committee is likely to meet later this week and an
official announcement will be made. However, the Islamic Crescent Observation
Project (ICOP) has reported that astronomically Eid Al Fitr will be on Friday,
meaning work for the private sector is likely to restart on Sunday as normal.
Earlier on
Sunday, official state news agency WAM announced the Eid Al Fitr holidays for
federal ministries and authorities will begin from Thursday 29th Ramadan 1436
(July 16) and end on the 3rd of the month of Shawwal.
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