Ramadan decorations in Dubai on April 5. AFP
Ramadan decorations in Dubai on April 5. AFP
Ramadan decorations in Dubai on April 5. AFP
Ramadan decorations in Dubai on April 5. AFP

Start of Eid Al Fitr holiday announced for UAE public sector


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The Eid Al Fitr holiday will begin on Thursday, April 20 for workers in the public sector, authorities have announced.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said the break would run from Ramadan 29 - which is marked on Thursday, April 20 - until Shawwal 3.

Shawwal 3 will fall on Sunday, April 23 if Ramadan lasts for 29 days and on Monday, April 24 if the holy month lasts for 30 days.

Shawwal is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.

The exact start date of Eid will be decided by the UAE's Moon-sighting committee.

It will mean a long weekend for government employees across the Emirates.

Employees will enjoy a five-day break if the duration of Ramadan is 30 days and return to work on Tuesday, April 25.

If Ramadan is 29 days, the Eid holiday will last four days.

Shawwal 3 is expected to fall on Sunday April 23, the International Astronomical Centre said.

What is Eid Al Fitr?

At the end of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr is the holiday that marks the completion of the month-long fasting period.

Practices vary around the world, but commonly they include morning prayers, public holidays, visiting family and friends, giving gifts and charity donations.

When is Eid Al Fitr and how is the start determined?

The end of the holy month will be confirmed in the same way as the beginning, by a Moon-sighting committee that is responsible for spotting the new crescent moon.

The duration of the holy month is decided by the Islamic calendar, which consists of 12 lunar months totalling either 354 or 355 days. That means each month can last either 29 or 30 days.

This year, in the UAE, Ramadan is expected to last 29 days, the Emirates Astronomical Society has said.

“Most likely, Ramadan this year will be for 29 days. Eid Al Fitr and the first of Shawwal will be on Friday, April 21,” Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the society's board of directors, told The National.

  • Worshippers perform prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Worshippers perform prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • People exchange greetings after prayers at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque. Pawan Singh / The National
    People exchange greetings after prayers at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Prayers were held across the country early on Monday to mark the start of Eid Al Fitr. Pawan Singh / The National
    Prayers were held across the country early on Monday to mark the start of Eid Al Fitr. Pawan Singh / The National
  • This year's Eid is the closest to normal since the pandemic began, after mosques returned to almost full capacity in February. Pawan Singh / The National
    This year's Eid is the closest to normal since the pandemic began, after mosques returned to almost full capacity in February. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Worshippers embrace after morning prayers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Worshippers embrace after morning prayers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A worshipper takes part in the traditional first morning Eid prayers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A worshipper takes part in the traditional first morning Eid prayers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Communal prayers are an important part of Eid celebrations. Pawan Singh / The National
    Communal prayers are an important part of Eid celebrations. Pawan Singh / The National
  • More people were able to attend prayers this year. Pawan Singh / The National
    More people were able to attend prayers this year. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Worshippers at the Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Worshippers at the Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • The start of Eid is a joyous occasion for Muslims in the UAE and around the world. Victor Besa / The National
    The start of Eid is a joyous occasion for Muslims in the UAE and around the world. Victor Besa / The National
  • The Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Early morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Early morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Warm greetings on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National
    Warm greetings on the first morning of Eid Al Fitr in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa/The National
  • Worshippers have this year been allowed to pray in straight lines again, rather than the zigzag format introduced during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
    Worshippers have this year been allowed to pray in straight lines again, rather than the zigzag format introduced during the pandemic. Victor Besa / The National
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD

6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m

7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m

8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m

8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m

9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m

 

The National selections

6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold

7.05pm Final Song

7.40pm Equilateral

8.15pm Dark Of Night

8.50pm Mythical Magic

9.25pm Franz Kafka

While you're here
What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

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Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Tu%20Jhoothi%20Main%20Makkaar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELuv%20Ranjan%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERanbir%20Kapoor%2C%20Shraddha%20Kapoor%2C%20Anubhav%20Singh%20Bassi%20and%20Dimple%20Kapadia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

The Light of the Moon

Director: Jessica M Thompson

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David

Three stars

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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SPECS
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Sukuk explained

Sukuk are Sharia-compliant financial certificates issued by governments, corporates and other entities. While as an asset class they resemble conventional bonds, there are some significant differences. As interest is prohibited under Sharia, sukuk must contain an underlying transaction, for example a leaseback agreement, and the income that is paid to investors is generated by the underlying asset. Investors must also be prepared to share in both the profits and losses of an enterprise. Nevertheless, sukuk are similar to conventional bonds in that they provide regular payments, and are considered less risky than equities. Most investors would not buy sukuk directly due to high minimum subscriptions, but invest via funds.

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts

Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon 

Rating:*****

match info

Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')

Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')

Man of the match  Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Updated: April 13, 2023, 9:27 AM