• People visit the Ramadan Reflection room at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. The room is filled with hanging lamps and mirrors. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    People visit the Ramadan Reflection room at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. The room is filled with hanging lamps and mirrors. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Men attend Friday prayers during the second Friday of Ramadan in Dubai. EPA
    Men attend Friday prayers during the second Friday of Ramadan in Dubai. EPA
  • Ramadan decoration at The Dubai Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Ramadan decoration at The Dubai Mall in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A Sri Lankan community group distributes 300 meals to workers at the Fakhruddin Camp in Sonapur, Dubai, with the help of Al Watani volunteers and the CDA. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A Sri Lankan community group distributes 300 meals to workers at the Fakhruddin Camp in Sonapur, Dubai, with the help of Al Watani volunteers and the CDA. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Masjid Rawda Al Abrar is seen with the Burj Khalifa in the distance just before sunset in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
    Masjid Rawda Al Abrar is seen with the Burj Khalifa in the distance just before sunset in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National.
  • The cannon firing in front of Qasr Al Hosn, in Abu Dhabi, marks the end of day's fasting. Victor Besa/The National
    The cannon firing in front of Qasr Al Hosn, in Abu Dhabi, marks the end of day's fasting. Victor Besa/The National
  • Customers buy delicacies hours before breaking their Ramadan fast in Dubai. Getty Images
    Customers buy delicacies hours before breaking their Ramadan fast in Dubai. Getty Images
  • An abra driver prepares an Iftar meal, in Dubai. Getty Images
    An abra driver prepares an Iftar meal, in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Ramadan decorations at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ramadan decorations at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A minaret stands among the skyscrapers in Barsha Heights, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A minaret stands among the skyscrapers in Barsha Heights, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Flowers outside a mosque in Jumeirah, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Flowers outside a mosque in Jumeirah, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The crescent moon appears above the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque at Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The crescent moon appears above the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque at Al Bahia, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Visitors look at a display of Ramadan lanterns in the main lobby of Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Visitors look at a display of Ramadan lanterns in the main lobby of Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Ramadan decorations at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    Ramadan decorations at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • Nancy Safy, an artist in Dubai and founder of To Infinity & Beyond, a business known for hand-painted art, gives a demonstration during iftar at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf. Pawan Singh / The National
    Nancy Safy, an artist in Dubai and founder of To Infinity & Beyond, a business known for hand-painted art, gives a demonstration during iftar at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Men pray at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai during Ramadan, a month-long celebration of self-purification and restraint. Getty
    Men pray at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai during Ramadan, a month-long celebration of self-purification and restraint. Getty
  • People visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah on the second day of Ramadan, the month of fasting. AFP
    People visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah on the second day of Ramadan, the month of fasting. AFP
  • A man prays at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai as Muslims across the world observe Ramadan. Getty
    A man prays at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai as Muslims across the world observe Ramadan. Getty
  • A view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, on the first evening of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National
    A view of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, on the first evening of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National
  • A view of the Omar Ali bin Haider Mosque in Deira, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A view of the Omar Ali bin Haider Mosque in Deira, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The interior of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah. AFP
    The interior of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Fujairah. AFP
  • Worshippers at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai as the faithful mark Ramadan, a month-long celebration of self-purification and restraint. Getty
    Worshippers at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai as the faithful mark Ramadan, a month-long celebration of self-purification and restraint. Getty
  • A worshipper at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Getty Images
    A worshipper at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Getty Images
  • Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah is lit up on the second day of Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah is lit up on the second day of Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ramadan decorations on City Walk in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ramadan decorations on City Walk in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Ramadan cannon at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah signals the end of fasting. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Ramadan cannon at Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah signals the end of fasting. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Masjid Bani Hashim in Dubai after sunrise on the third day of Ramadan. The mosque was built as a replica of Palestine’s Dome of the Rock. Victor Besa / The National
    Masjid Bani Hashim in Dubai after sunrise on the third day of Ramadan. The mosque was built as a replica of Palestine’s Dome of the Rock. Victor Besa / The National

UAE announces Eid Al Fitr holiday for private sector workers


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  • Arabic

The UAE announced Eid Al Fitr holiday dates for the private sector.

Workers will enjoy a public holiday from Ramadan 29, Tuesday, May 11, until Shawwal 3.

Shawwal 3 is expected to fall on Saturday, May 15, but is to be confirmed by the UAE's moon-sighting committee.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Eid break for government staff was revealed.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources on Tuesday said the holiday would also run from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3.

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. Practices vary around the world, but commonly include morning prayers, public holidays, visiting with family and friends, new clothing and henna, gift-giving, and charity donations.

How do people celebrate Eid?

On the first day of Eid, Muslims typically wake just before dawn to perform Eid prayers at mosques.

Muslims tend to wear new clothes and visit family and friends.

This year’s celebrations will be muted, but no less important, as gatherings will be limited to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Celebrations tend to last three days.

What does Eid Mubarak mean?

The phrase "Eid Mubarak" is used to wish a happy and blessed Eid.

The Laughing Apple

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

(Verve Decca Crossover)

Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers

1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.

While you're here
What to watch out for:

Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways

The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof

The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history

Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure

Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.5-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20101hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20135Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Six-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh79%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Six large-scale objects on show
  • Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
  • The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
  • A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
  • A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
  • Torrijos Palace dome
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Qualifier A, Muscat

(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv) 

Fixtures

Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain 

Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain 

Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines 

Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals 

Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final 

UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia