Public and private sector workers across the UAE will be granted a public holiday on Friday, June 27, to mark the start of the new Islamic year, authorities announced on Monday.
The Islamic, or Hijri, New Year, heralds the beginning of Muharram, the first of 12 months on the Islamic calendar.
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources issued a circular to ministries and federal departments to confirm the public holiday, while the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced the holiday for the private sector later on Monday.
In contrast to Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, no religious observances are typically held to mark the Islamic New Year. It is generally regarded as a day of reflection rather than celebration.
The holiday announcement will allow employees to enjoy a full Friday off and extend their weekend.
Shorter hours for public sector
The UAE government introduced a four-and-a-half-day week on January 1, 2022, with public sector employees completing full hours from Monday to Thursday and working from 7.30am until noon on Fridays.
The Sharjah government brought in a four-day working week – with public sector staff having a three-day weekend starting on Fridays – soon after. Dubai is to introduce a four-day working week for the summer months, but the initiative will come into force after the Islamic New Year is observed.
Employees will be divided into two groups. The first will work eight hours from Monday to Thursday, with Friday as a full holiday, while the second will work seven hours from Monday to Thursday and work a half-day on Friday. The initiative will run from July 1 to September 12.
It follows a pilot plan last summer, launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, called Our Summer is Flexible.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
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Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
