ABU DHABI // UAE government employees will be paid early this month, before the start of Eid Al Adha.
Dr Ahmed Abdulaziz Al Haddad, the Grand Mufti of Dubai and head of the Fatwa Department, said Thursday next week would be Arafat Day and Friday the first day of Eid Al Adha.
Salaries will be paid on October 21 to government employees in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Umm Al Qaiwain to enable them to prepare for Eid, the state news agency Wam reported.
In Abu Dhabi, the early pay day will apply to employees in local government departments, the Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police and military and police retirees.
The payment was ordered by the President Sheikh Khalifa, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Wam said.
Bal Junio, a finance manager at an Abu Dhabi government company, said he had yet to receive instructions from management to work on the employees’ payroll so it would be ready on October 21.
“But there is a tendency for people to spend their salaries over the Eid holidays,” Mr Junio said.
“We got our salaries as early as August 18 ahead of Eid Al Fitr, and many of my colleagues struggled by the middle of September because they ran out of money.”
All UAE government employees were paid early before Eid Al Fitr.
Mr Junio, who conducts financial-literacy workshops at the Philippine Embassy in the capital, said employees should plan ahead and stick to their budget.
Dubai shopping malls will be open 24 hours and the Eid in Dubai shopping festival has been extended from four days to between October 18 and 28.
“Remember, it’s your entire month’s salary,” Mr Junio said. “Do not treat it as a bonus.”