Dubai and Abu Dhabi government workers to get week-long Eid Al Fitr holiday

Employees will have a longer break from Saturday, April 30, until Sunday, May 8

Beautiful decorations for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Beautiful decorations for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Beautiful decorations for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

People shopping at Carrefour Hypermarket at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai ahead of Eid Al Fitr. Pawan Singh / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Tailors at a garment shop in Satwa prepare and finish sowing Eid clothes for the upcoming end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Antonie Robertson / The National

Public sector workers will have a full week's holiday to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah this weekend confirmed the break, which follows the federal HR authority's decision on Thursday.

Employees will have a nine-day break including weekends from Saturday, April 30, until Sunday, May 8, with work resuming on Monday, May 9. The remaining three emirates are expected to confirm the same dates.

But private sector employees will enjoy a holiday from Ramadan 29 — Saturday, April 30 — until Shawwal 3 — either Tuesday, May 3, or Wednesday, May 4, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting, which is typically marked with special nightly congregational prayers such as taraweeh and tahajjud, and increased acts of charity.

When is Eid Al Fitr 2022 in the UAE?

Considered the festival of ending the fast, the celebration immediately follows Ramadan.

The holy month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent moon is sighted, as the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.

The Emirates Astronomical Society has forecast that the last day of Ramadan will be on Monday, May 2, making the month 30 days.