Public and private sector employees will enjoy a long weekend next week to mark the Islamic, or Hijri, New Year.
Authorities announced that Sunday, August 23, would be a public holiday for all staff. Work will resume on Monday, August 24.
The holiday marks the beginning of the new Islamic year 1442. It marks the day on which the Prophet Mohammed migrated from Makkah to Madinah.
The islamic calendar is lunar, which is why it does not correspond with the Gregorian calendar.
Muslims do not mark Islamic New Year with public celebrations or events. Hotels and bars are typically asked to refrain from serving alcohol and hosting live entertainment.
How many holidays are left in 2020?
The next public holiday the UAE will celebrate is likely to fall on October 29, to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
There will also be a three-day break in December, starting with a public holiday to mark Commemoration Day on Tuesday, December 1, followed by days off on December 2 and December 3 to celebrate National Day.
Last year, the UAE Cabinet issued a stipulation that the public and private sectors would have the same number of holiday days.
Previously, people employed in the public sector had more days off than those working for private companies.
The move was part of long-standing efforts to encourage Emiratis to move away from government jobs, where the vast majority of citizens work.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic – Listed (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.45pm: Jumeirah Classic Trial – Conditions (TB) $150,000 (T) 1,400m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
