The first day of Eid Al Fitr will be announced on Friday night, after the moon-sighting committee meets remotely to search for a new crescent moon.
The committee, chaired by Sultan Al Badi, Minister of Justice, will meet partly through video conference after maghrib prayers to look for the moon on Ramadan 29 and deliberate the start of a new month.
Sharia courts across the country will also follow up and inform the committee of any sightings.
If the new moon is spotted, Eid will immediately begin. If the moon is not observed, then the holiday will be celebrated the following day.
On Wednesday, the minister ordered the committee to be formed and said it would meet virtually due to the coronavirus situation.
The Islamic or Hijri calendar is determined by moon cycles, which are either 29 or 30 days long. The presence of a new moon signals the start of a new month.
As it stands, Eid will either fall on Saturday or Sunday, depending on if Ramadan will last 29 or 30 days.
Eid Al Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast, begins on the first day of the new Islamic month, Shawwal, and is celebrated for up to three days depending on the country.
On Monday, astronomers from the International Astronomical Centre, based in Abu Dhabi, said they anticipated Eid Al Fitr would fall on Sunday, May 24.
Mohammed Odeh, director of the centre, said spotting the new moon would be "impossible in all Islamic countries due to the setting of the moon before the sun".
He said officials typically have a 30-minute window to see the moon once the sun sets, but if the moon sets before the sun, it would be impossible to see it.
If the new moon cannot be sighted on Friday night, the the first day of Eid would begin on Sunday – after 30 days of Ramadan.
“For countries that started Ramadan on April 24, Friday will be the 29th day of Ramadan, and since the moon is unlikely to be sighted, Saturday is likely to be the last day of Ramadan and Sunday will be the first day of Eid,” said Mr Odeh.
Public and private sector workers have already been told that their Eid holiday will begin on Ramadan 29 and last until Shawwal 3. Ramadan 29 will fall on Friday on the Gregorian calendar but Shawwal 3 will either fall on Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on whether Ramadan is made up of 29 or 30 days this year.
Holidays used to differ for public and private sector workers but these were unified by the government last year.
As with the holy month, time-honoured Eid traditions are likely to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Although restrictions on travel and trade have been eased, festivities are set to be more restrained with local authorities calling on families not to gather and risk spreading the virus.
On the first day of Eid, Muslims would typically wake up just before dawn to perform Eid prayers at mosques.
During Eid, Muslims tend to wear new clothes and visit family and friends.
This year's celebrations are expected to be muted, with mosques still closed and gatherings remaining limited to groups of no more than five.
In recent years, it became common practice to travel during Eid but there may instead be a rise in staycations this year as flights have been grounded to prevent the spread of the virus.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
