Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Private sector employees across the UAE will get a four-day paid holiday for Eid Al Adha after the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) officially announced the break on Monday (May 18). According to MoHRE, the holiday will begin on Tuesday (May 26) for Arafat Day and continue until Friday (May 29) for Eid Al Adha celebrations. Normal working hours will resume on Saturday (May 30). The announcement follows the UAE Cabinet’s approved public holiday calendar and comes after the country officially confirmed that Eid Al Adha will begin on Wednesday (May 27) following the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of Dhu Al Hijja. The UAE’s moon-sighting committee confirmed on Sunday (May 17) that the crescent moon had been sighted, making Monday (May 18) the first day of Dhu Al Hijja, the final month of the Islamic calendar. This sets Arafat Day on Tuesday (May 26), followed by Eid Al Adha from Wednesday (May 27). The confirmation aligns with announcements made by Saudi Arabia, Oman, Tunisia and Turkey, which also confirmed Monday as the start of Dhu Al Hijja after moon sightings on Sunday evening. Earlier, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) announced a five-day paid holiday for federal government employees from May 25 to 29, with work resuming on June 1. The public sector holiday covers both Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha and gives government workers an extended break. Meanwhile, private schools in Dubai had already announced closures from May 25 to 29, with classes set to resume on June 1. Eid Al Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important occasions in Islam. The holiday commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command. It is observed with special prayers, family gatherings, charitable giving and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, with meat traditionally shared among relatives, friends and people in need. The occasion also coincides with the completion of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah and one of Islam’s five pillars. ICA/Expat Media
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