Bahrain confirms Isra’a Wal Miraj holiday date

Bahrain is to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Isra’a Wal Miraj on Thursday, April 12, the island kingdom’s news agency announced on Wednesday.

The annual ceremony will be held under the patronage of resident of the Supreme Islamic Affairs Council (SIAC), Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalid Al-Khalifa and is expected to be accompanied by a national holiday.

It will be organised by the Directorate of Religious Affairs at the Ministry of Justice Islamic Affairs and Endowments at the Ahmed Al-Fateh Islamic Centre.

Sheikh Abdulla and other officials will be in attendance alongside religious scholars who will deliver speeches to mark the occasion.

Citizens and residents have also been invited to attend.

Earlier this week it was reported that bars and restaurants in the UAE had been instructed not to serve alcohol from 6:00pm on Friday, April 13 until 7:00pm on Saturday, April 14 to mark the Islamic holiday.

Read: UAE to have dry night for national holiday

Isra’a Wal Miraj, or ‘the Night Journey’, refers to a journey undertaken by Prophet Mohammed from Makkah to Jerusalem in one night.

Most Gulf countries have yet to announce whether they will grant public and private sector employees a national holiday.

Bahrain’s announcement had indicated that Thursday would be the likely holiday date given to works in the region, but separately Kuwait has said it will give workers Sunday, April 15 off.

Read: Kuwait announces Isra’a Wal Miraj holiday

Last year, Isra’a Wal Miraj fell on Saturday, April 22.

Both public and private sector workers in the UAE got the next day off under the country’s federal law, which allows public holidays to be moved to the beginning or end of the week.

Read: UAE declares Isra’a Wal Miraaj holiday for public and private sectors