Dubai's private school pupils and university students will have a week-long break for the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the emirate's private education regulator, confirmed on Monday that all private schools, universities and nurseries would be closed from Monday, April 8, until Sunday, April 14, to celebrate the holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The decision was confirmed shortly after authorities announced the Eid holiday for the private sector.
Private sector employees will enjoy either four or five days of paid leave, depending on when Eid begins.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Monday said employees would be off from the 29th day of Ramadan, which falls on Monday, April 8, until the third day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
The first day of Shawwal heralds the beginning of Eid Al Fitr.
If Ramadan lasts 29 days, the third day of Shawwal will be on Thursday, giving employees a four-day break. In this instance, work will resume on Friday, April 12.
If Ramadan is observed for 30 days, as has been forecast, the Eid holiday will run until Friday, April 12. Work would then resume on Monday, April 15.
The UAE Cabinet on Sunday announced that federal government staff would be granted paid leave from Monday, April 8, until Sunday, April 14. Work will resume on Monday, April 15.
Extended school holiday
Pupils at many private schools in the UAE began a three-week holiday last week, as the institutions chose to merge the Eid Al Fitr and spring breaks.
At most schools, spring break began on March 25 and will end on April 5, with the Eid holiday following immediately on April 8.
Parents previously told The National of their plans to book overseas trips to make the most of the expected long holiday.
Trisha Daya, a South African resident in Dubai, plans to enjoy a 10-day holiday in Thailand and Singapore with her husband and daughters, aged six and nine.
“I think it's just to give [children] a bit of a break. The weather should be good as well,” Ms Daya told The National.
“When it's anything that involves six or seven hours of travel, you know that you're going to need a couple of days to recover from jet lag so it's good to be able to just take two weeks or 10 days to fully enjoy the holiday. We are definitely happy that we have a longer break.”
Eid celebrations in the UAE - in pictures
Total eligible population
About 57.5 million people
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6.4 million have not
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England 11%
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Wales 10%
Northern Ireland 14%
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
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On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
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Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
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