People still in holiday mood

Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Many people working in the private sector said returning to work Thursday after the three-day Eid break did not seem right.

"I feel all alone,' said Serine Srongi, a senior account manager with a public relations firm. "It's not funny at all working on a Thursday," she said. Her company deals with clients in the public sector and workers in the government departments get more days off than the private sector and are on holidays till Sunday.

She said she will spend the time cleaning up her email inbox and do some other work which she can never get done during the daily busy schedule.

Many others felt that working yesterday was like an interruption to their festivities. Mohammad Zakir, a personnel manager, who works in a maritime company in Abu Dhabi, said he was still in the holiday mood. "It felt unusual to come to work today," he said, when everyone else in his building in Mussafah was enjoying their Eid vacations. Like most other people, Zakir said it was "slow' at work today. "Fortunately, I have only half a day of work. I am waiting to go back home to my wife and four daughters."

Rawhi Abeidoh, who owns a music academy in Dubai, said he had given the days off till yesterday to the teachers but that he had worked during the holidays. "We are moving to a new location in Times Square," he said. "This does not mean I forgot about my friends and family. I spent some time with them and the rest of the day I worked."

Brisk business

While some people worked, the lucky ones could be seen flocking to the parks and the beaches. "The pleasant weather means that it is a perfect time to be out," said Onaija Yasmin, a secretary working in a consultancy firm in Abu Dhabi. She said she cannot wait to finish work and go out with her friends. "I have quite a bit of work today, but then I still feel like I am still on a holiday because I don't have work tomorrow. I have an Eid dinner invitation tonight, so I am waiting to head there as soon as I am done with work," she said.

Mitha Furtado, who works in a PR firm in Al Ghurair City, said she was definitely not in a mood to work. This is the first Eid she was working. The Indian expatriate said she could not go to Oman for the break because of a visa problem, but went to Ras Al Khaimah to enjoy the Aquapark. "The hotels were fully booked and the beach was crowded," she said.

Mohammad Masoud Ahmad was one of the few lucky private sector employees who did not return to work on Thursday. The travel agency he works allowed employees to work on Monday and take Thursday off so that they could have an uninterrupted break. "I am off to Al Ain with my family," he said.