Abu Dhabi families enjoy first day of the festive holiday - in pictures

A sunny cool day made for a great start to the long break

A family enjoys a meal at Dolphin Park in the Eastern Mangroves. All photos by Victor Besa / The National

Children on their bikes near the mangroves. Many are off until the first or seven second week of January

The Cheema Family fire up the barbecue

Zeid El Kakoun flies a rainbow kite

Toddlers at the jungle gym

After the rains of the past week the weather was cool and fresh

The festive break is particularly long this year - government schools and the private schools that follow the Emirati ministry of education curriculum have almost a month off

A youngster plays in the sand on Friday afternoon

Families enjoyed a cool and breezy start to the festive holidays on Friday.

Parks were fully as families held picnics and took their bikes for a spin around the city.

Many private schools are off until January 5 and government and Ministry of Education curriculum schools are off until January 12.