UAE Islamic New Year holiday confirmed

Public and private sector employees in the UAE will get Sunday, October 2 off to mark Islamic New Year, it has been confirmed.

In a tweet, Dubai media office said federal and ministry employees would receive a day off, effectively granting them a three-day weekend.

Sunday 2 October is official holiday for ministries and federal government entities on the occasion of Hijri new year #UAE

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 26, 2016

This was followed by a statement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation saying Sunday would also be a paid holiday for private sector workers.

“H.E Saqr Ghobash, the minister, made the announcement following provisions of Article 74 of the Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 concerning labour relations and its amendments,” the ministry said.

Read: Long weekend expected in the UAE to mark Islamic New Year

Citizens and residents in the country are expected to use the long weekend to travel abroad.

The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, with the start of each month marking a new lunar cycle.

As a result, the Islamic system is 11 days shorter than the 365-day Gregorian calendar, instead lasting 354 or 355 days.