Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Shutterstock
As this unprecedented Holy Month nears its conclusion, private and public sector employees can gear up for an extended long weekend break at the end of May in honor of Eid Al-Fitr. The exact calendar dates are yet to be confirmed until the sighting of the moon, but the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has announced a three-day paid holiday set to begin on Friday, May 22 and will tentatively end on either Tuesday, May 26 or Wednesday, May 27, depending on the length of Ramadan this year.
#MOHRE announced the dates between 29 Ramadan and 3 Shawwal 1441 (Hijri) to be a paid holiday for all employees working in the private sector in the UAE on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr pic.twitter.com/ksdOBykRIk
— MOHRE_UAE وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) May 13, 2020
Both private and public sector workers will follow the same holiday schedule to signal the end of the fasting month and the beginning of a new one. While stay-at-home restrictions are gradually easing in the UAE with malls, restaurants, public parks, and private beaches all reopening with appropriate social distancing measures in place, it’s expected precautionary guidelines for Eid festivities during the pandemic will still be released by the government as with Ramadan.
Also Read: Saudi Arabia Introduces 24-Hour Lockdown for Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
Throughout the Holy Month, Muslims in the UAE halted many of their longtime traditions in order to safeguard the health and safety of their fellow community members, with the closure of mosques, limitations on large gatherings to five people, and suspension of iftar tents being just a few of the ways the manner in which celebrations changed this year. However, the generous and reflective spirit of Ramadan continued to permeate into the more intimate and family-based gatherings, instilling a sense of unity and gratefulness in the face of such global turmoil.
Even though UAE residents may be unable to take advantage of the Eid holidays to travel internationally as was common in past years due to airline and hotel restrictions, check out these local escapes for the ideal beach getaway to relax and rejuvenate while still abiding by health and safety rules.
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