UAE residents may have the longest holiday break of the year of up to 9 days in April to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, according to experts. Ramadan began on March 11 in the UAE after the crescent moon was sighted on the evening of March 10. Ramadan will last for 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon sighting. The UAE Cabinet has previously announced the Eid holiday from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 on the Islamic calendar. Ramadan 29 corresponds to April 8 (Monday) on the Gregorian calendar, making it the first day of the Eid holiday. This means that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, then the last day of Ramadan will be on April 9 (Tuesday) and first day of Eid will fall on April 10 (Wednesday). If it lasts 29 days, then the last day of Ramadan will be April 8 (Monday) and Eid will begin on April 9 (Tuesday). In the UAE, the last day of Ramadan is normally also declared a public holiday. So, if Eid begins on April 10, then UAE residents can expect a 6-day holiday from April 8 (Monday) to April 11, which falls on a Thursday. This will be preceeded by the Saturday-Sunday weekend, making it a 6-day break. If Eid Al Fitr starts on April 9, then residents can expect a 9-day break from April 8 (Monday) to April 12 (Friday), beginning from the two-day weekend on April 6 and 7, followed by the Eid break from April 8 to 12, and then the two-day weekend on April 13 and 14. Work resumes on April 15 (Monday). Authorities will make an official announcement of the Eid holiday based on the relevant moon sighting. ICA/Expat Media
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