Employees in the UAE will get to enjoy a break for the Eid Al Adha celebrations in the UAE this year. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) made the announcement on Thursday (August 1).
According to the circular issued by the UAE Federal Authority, Arafat Day will be observed on 9 Dhu Al Hijjah 1440 and Eid Al Adha will be celebrated on 10, 11, and 12 of the Islamic month, according to the FAHR. Similarly, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announced that the decision also applies to employees in the private sector.
Eid Al Adha 2019 in UAE
On the FAHR’s official Twitter account, the authority announced that the Eid Al Adha holidays for the private and public sector in the UAE will be celebrated on 10, 11, and 12 of the Islamic month.
The announcement was made in a circular issued by Nasser Bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of MOHRE.
تقرر أن تبدأ #إجازة_عيد_الأضحى المبارك في الوزارات والجهات الاتحادية من تاريخ 9 ذي الحجة لعام 1440 هــ، ولغاية 12 ذي الحجة، وبما يوافق ذلك من التاريخ الميلادي، وذلك استناداً لقرار مجلس الوزراء بشأن العطلات الرسمية للقطاعين الحكومي والخاص في الدولة pic.twitter.com/2Fh5PX0vPI
— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) July 4, 2019
The circular was issued in line with the UAE Cabinet’s decision earlier this year, which approved the list of national holidays for 2019, and granted the private sector the same number of holidays as the public sector.
According to the circular, the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the month in the Islamic calendar, corresponds to Arafat Day while Eid takes place on the 10th day.
Muslims regard the Dhu Al Hijjah as the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and marks the date for the pilgrimage to Makkah.
In this regard, the first day of the Eid Al Adha will fall on a Sunday, August 11, as announced by Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court posted on WAM news agency.
Furthermore, the sighting of the Dhu Al Hijja moon on Thursday (Aug 1), confirms that August 11 is the first day of Eid Al Adha.
Historically, the first day of Eid Al Adha always falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijja, one day after the Arafat Day, according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
The Muslim festival of the Eid Al Adha marks the end of the important worship of Haj or pilgrimage to Makkah.
At the end of the Haj, Muslims commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham, by slaughtering an animal such as a camel, sheep or goat. The long-standing practice has very often been misunderstood by those outside the faith.
The meat from the sacrifice is usually given away to those who are far more in need, and in a way, the practice results to actually feeding the poor. The act also symbolizes Muslims willingness to give up things that are of benefit to them or close to their hearts. It also symbolizes the people’s willingness to give up some of their own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are fr more in need.
ALSO READ: List of UAE Public Holidays 2019
As always, let’s keep an eye out for updates and changes on the dates especially as the dates draw nearer. After all, Islamic holidays depend on the sighting of the moon and announcements from the government.
