Long Eid Al Fitr holidays for UAE public and private sectors

A nine-day public sector holiday has been announced in the UAE for Eid al-Fitr. A statement posted by the government on Twitter said the break will start on Sunday June 2nd 2019.

Public sector workers who get a Friday and Saturday off will have a break from May 31st – June 8th inclusive. Work will resume on Sunday June 9th 2019.

The statement said: “Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Cabinet announces Eid Al Fitr holiday for the public sector to start on Sunday 2nd of June, for one week, with work resuming on Sunday 9th of June.”

In a circular issued by Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, in implementation of the UAE cabinet’s decision on setting private sector’s official holidays is that holidays will begin on Monday June 3rd (29 Ramadan) until 3rd of Shawwal – work will resume of 4th of Shawwal. Eid falls on the 1st day of Shawwal which depends on moon-sighting – this will be either June 4th or June 5th.

The apparent difference between the public and private sector holidays is somewhat surprising, given that earlier this year, the UAE Cabinet had announced that both public and private sectors would have the same number of official holidays.

National holidays in United Arab Emirates in 2019