Mark them in your planner!
It is never too early to start planning your next holiday. As 2019 comes to an end, we look forward to all the possible holidays that the new year may bring. Here are all of the days off and short breaks that 2020 may hold for us.
January 1 – New Year’s Day
The UAE has already announced that New Year’s day will be a public holiday. Both public and private sectors will have Wednesday, January 1 off.
May 23 to May 26 – Eid Al Fitr
Eid Al Fitr is the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. The dates are based on moon sightings, but are expected to fall between May 23 to 26. Residents should expect to get two days off based on when it falls during the week, as this is usually the case with Eid Al Fitr.
July 29 – Arafat Day
Arafat Day marks the second day of the annual Hajj (the Muslim pilgrimage). The holiday takes place the day before the start of Eid Al Adha. The date of Arafat is based on moon-sighting, but is expected to fall on July 29, which is a Wednesday.
July 30 – Eid Al Adha
Eid Al Adha is the celebration of sacrifice. It honours Prophet Ibrahim, and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for Allah – his son is willing to oblige, before Allah sent his angel Jibra’il, to inform Prophet Ibrahim that he has already accepted the sacrifice from his heart.
To mark this occasion, goats are sacrificed and divided into three parts: one part for the family, one part for relatives, and one part for the poor. The three-day holiday is expected to begin on Thursday, July 30.
August 23 –Islamic New Year
In 2020 the Islamic New Year is expected to fall on August 23, which will be a Sunday. This could possibly also be another long weekend. However, the official date of the holiday is subject to moon-sighting.
October 29 – Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) Birthday
December 1 – Commemoration Day
Commemoration Day, which was formerly referred to as Martyr’s Day, is a public holiday on December 1. This holiday was announced by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, back in 2015 to honour Emiratis who have died for their country. It falls on a Tuesday in 2020, and combined with two days off for UAE National Day, will mean a five-day weekend.
December 2 and 3 – UAE National Day
Next year will be the UAE’s 49th National Day, celebrating the unification of the seven emirates in 1971. We are set to get two days off on Wednesday December 2 and Thursday December 3, so combined with Commemoration Day, will mean a five days weekend – perfect for a getaway.
Media: Pintrest
