Public and private sector workers in the UAE will have the same number of holidays as of this year.
That is according to a UAE Cabinet decree issued on Tuesday that also standardised holiday dates for this year and the next.
Some of the holidays listed by the Cabinet have been presented according to the lunar calendar, with no corresponding Gregorian calendar date - such as for Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and the Islamic New Year. This is because the dates are subject to the lunar calendar and will be announced by the UAE's moon-sighting committee closer to the time.
The estimated Gregorian calendar dates The National has listed for those three holidays below, correspond with the Hijri calendar on the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments - or Awqaf - website.
With that disclaimer out the way, we come to the important questions:
When is the next public day off?
Now that Israa Wa Miraaj, which would have fallen in April, is no longer listed as a public holiday, the next day off we can all look forward to is Eid Al Fitr, a two-day celebration to mark the end of Ramadan. This is likely to fall on Monday June 3, though this depends on when Ramadan begins and ends too. The number of days off will also vary depending on whether Ramadan lasts 29 or 30 days.
Following that will be Eid Al Adha. The holiday begins on Arafat Day - most likely August 10 - and lasts four days, until August 13. August 10 is a Saturday but employees who work a five-day week will still get three working days off.
Next up will be the Islamic New Year on Muharram 1, or Saturday, August 31. Commemoration Day has been moved to December 1, a Sunday, to merge with two days off for National Day on December 2 and 3.
Has the number of public holidays changed?
It is difficult to tell because the number of days off varies each year depending on how the Islamic calendar - which is based on the lunar cycle - lines up with the Gregorian calendar - that is based on the solar year.
Last year, private sector employees, who work Saturdays, had 10 days off, as did government workers. Private sector workers who have a two-day weekend only had eight days off last year. However, last year was slightly unlucky because many Islamic holidays coincided with the weekend. November 30, 2018, Commemoration Day, fell on a Friday and the two-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr fell over a weekend too.
This year, and in 2020, government and private sector employees will each have a standard 14 public holidays. And while the Prophet's Birthday and Israa Wa Miraaj have been removed from the list of public holidays, extra days have been added by increasing the Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha holidays.
How does the UAE fare compared with other countries?
As far as the number of days off go, the UAE is a good place for employees to be. With 14 days off, the UAE hovers about midway between the country with the most days off and that with the fewest.
Cambodia is the country with the most days off a year with 28 public holidays. Many are religious observations related to Buddhism and are subject to change based on how the Khmer calendar aligns with the Gregorian calendar. India is up next with up to 21 public holidays, depending on the state you live in.
At the lower end of the list is the UK with eight public holidays a year, Germany, Serbia and Hungary with nine days and there's 10 in the US. But the prize for least number of public holidays a year goes to Mexico with only seven.
Why were the number of public holidays for public and private sector unified?
The UAE Cabinet announced the changes in a tweet this week, explaining that the decree aims to achieve balance between the two sectors and support the national economy. It said it would help streamline work within, and between, the public and private sector.
The standardisation of holidays between sectors is also part of government efforts to attract Emiratis to work in private companies. In the UAE, the public sector has historically been seen as a more prestigious and rewarding career path, offering nationals an opportunity to serve their country with an attractive package that includes more days off, and generally higher salaries.
But encouraging more Emiratis to enter the private sector is seen as crucial in ensuring there are enough jobs to go around, both now and in the future.
And of course unifying public holidays for both sectors will also make it easier for people to plan for their days off.
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
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.
The five pillars of Islam
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- 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
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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