Public sector workers in the UAE will be granted paid leave for the first three days of Shawwal to mark Eid Al Fitr, the government confirmed on Monday. The exact start date of Shawwal will be determined by the UAE's moon-sighting committee in the final days of Ramadan.
Each month in the Islamic calendar lasts for 29 or 30 days. As Ramadan began on March 1, the first day of Shawwal will be on either Sunday, March 30 or Monday, March 31.
As Ramadan draws closer to an end, families and friends across the UAE will be preparing to celebrate Eid Al Fitr. Many will send greetings and exchange gifts with loved ones to mark the end of the holy month. Others will share food with the less privileged.
The Emirates Astronomical Society previously stated that Eid Al Fitr is likely to begin on March 31.
According to the Astronomical Society, the Eid Al Fitr holiday in the UAE will “most likely” be from Monday, March 31, until Wednesday, April 2. Combined with the Saturday and Sunday, this will be the first long holiday of the year.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the society’s board of directors told The National that exact dates for public holidays of Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha will be confirmed by the UAE’s Moon-sighting committee in the days preceding the holidays.
Mr Al Jarwan said that key elements in predicting the lunar cycle include the birth of the new Moon or its conjunction with the Sun, the new Moon's elevation above the horizon at sunset and the age of the new Moon at sunset.
“The Moon’s crescent will be born three hours before sunset on Saturday March 29. It will be very thin covering only 0.01 per cent of the Moon’s surface,” Mr Al Jarwan said.
Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr are decided by the Islamic calendar, which consists of 12 lunar months totalling either 354 or 355 days and because of this it moves up to 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Eid Al Fitr marks one of two holy feasts celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
The first day of Eid Al Fitr coincides with the first day of the 10th Islamic calendar month, known as Shawwal.
Celebrations begin with Eid prayers, shortly after the dawn fajr prayer.
The Eid prayer is followed by a sermon and a big part of the ritual is greeting others who have gathered to pray and wishing them an “Eid Mubarak”.
The prayers are seen as a chance to exchange Eid greetings and meet neighbours, family and friends.
Eid Al Fitr is celebrated for three days by visiting families and loved ones.
Eid Al Adha in June
For Eid Al Adha, Mr Al Jarwan said the first day of the Islamic month Dhul Hijjah will be on Wednesday, May 28.
“It means that Eid Al Adha will likely be on Friday, June 6,” added Mr Al Jarwan.
Eid Al Adha holiday will be from Thursday June 5 with Arafat Day followed by Eid Al Adha on Friday June 6 until Sunday June 8, according to astronomical calculations.
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