Employees in the UAE can enjoy an extended weekend after it was confirmed that Eid Al Fitr will begin on Sunday.
The country's Moon-sighting committee – a group of astronomers, court officials and advisers from the Emirates' Islamic authority – gathered on Saturday night to try to see the new crescent moon heralding the start of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
The sighting was confirmed, meaning that Eid will begin on Sunday, March 30, marking the end of Ramadan. The UAE government said public sector staff would be given paid leave for the first three days of Shawwal.
Private sector workers will also enjoy a long weekend in celebration, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced. The ministry confirmed employees will be given paid leave from Sunday, March 30, until Tuesday, April 1, for the festival.
Federal government and private sector workers are typically given the same number of public holidays each year.
What is Eid Al Fitr?
Eid Al Fitr signifies the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the month of Shawwal. It is a celebratory occasion marked by morning prayers, family get-togethers and the giving of gifts, as well as charitable donations. A public holiday accompanies Eid Al Fitr, with many people taking time off work to travel abroad or take short trips in the region.
Muslims around the world prepare for Eid
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Company profile
Company: Eighty6
Date started: October 2021
Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Hospitality
Size: 25 employees
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investment: $1 million
Investors: Seed funding, angel investors
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
