Already planning our next getaway!
Nothing is harder than returning back to work and our routine after a week off. But while we sit in our office, we are dreaming of and planning our next vacation, which will likely be in early August. According to the International Astronomical Centre (IAC) in Abu Dhabi, Eid Al-Adha will likely fall on Sunday, August 11.
This upcoming holiday will be dependent on the sighting of the moon; however, Mohammed Shawkat, the Director of the IAC, said there will be no dispute over the sighting of the Helal or new moon of the lunar month of Zul Hijjah. “Most Arab and Islamic centres will be able to easily and clearly see the new moon of Zul Hijjah by naked eyes and telescopes,” he said. This Eid is liked the The Hajj, which is the Islamic pilgrimage, and the announcement will be made by Saudi Arabia, which will be approved by most countries.
Another holiday which coincides with Eid Al-Adha is Arafat Day, which is an Islamic holiday that falls on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic Calendar. It is the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and the day after is the first day of the major Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Earlier this year, the UAE government outlined the full list of public holidays for 2019 and 2020, which included Arafat Day, which is expected to fall on Saturday, August 10.
As August 10 is a Saturday, we will likely have a long weekend from Friday August 9 to Wednesday August 14, although we won’t know until the announcement nearer the time. In March, the government sent out a tweet from their official Twitter account, saying that it will be granting equal days off to the public and private sector. This decision was made in an effort to achieve a balance between the two sectors and supporting the national economy.
For Eid Al-Fitr, the public sector were awarded a full week-off, their vacation starting from Sunday June 2, with work resuming on Sunday June 9. Meanwhile, the private sector started their holiday from Monday, June 2 with work resuming on Sunday June 9.
We can’t wait for the official announcement!
Image: Instagram
