Eid Al Fitr 2022 holidays for private and public sectors in UAE explained

Dubai: The UAE Cabinet has approved a decision extending Eid Al Fitr holidays for a week, starting from Saturday, April 30 until Friday, May 6.

The decision covers all ministries and federal entities in the UAE. Work will resume on Monday, May 9. This means that employees of all ministries and federal entities will enjoy a 9-day long holiday.

9-day break for public sector

In line with the Cabinet decision, the Ministry of Human Resources in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain have approved a 9-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr.

The UAE moon-sighting committee will convene to confirm the official starting date for Eid.

Long weekend for private sector

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced that the period from 29 Ramadan until 3 Shawwal 1443 will be a paid holiday for all workers in the private sector on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

How many days off?

If the month of Ramadan completes 30 days, Eid will be on Monday, May 2 (Shawwal 1). Employees in the UAE, in this case, will enjoy a five-day weekend including Saturday (April 30), Sunday (May 1), Monday (May 2), Tuesday (May 3) and Wednesday (May 4).

However, if Ramadan will only have 29 days (based on moon-sighting), Eid Al Fitr will fall on Sunday, May 1 (Shawwal 1), and then residents may enjoy a 4-day long weekend, starting from Saturday, April 30 till Tuesday, May 3.

The exact dates as per the Gregorian calendar can only be confirmed after moon-sighting.

Eid holidays for Dubai schools

Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in a tweet declared that Eid Al Fitr holidays for all schools will begin from Monday, May 2, and will re-open on Monday, May 9. 

It means students will enjoy a week off from class. Typically, schools get a two-day holiday for Eid Al Fitr. The Eid holidays come after the midterm break. Most schools have started their second semester, while Indian and Pakistani schools have begun their new academic year.

Regular timings

After the Eid break, schools will resume regular timings, which have been shortened for Ramadan. A daily limit of five hours at school is currently in place; on Fridays, classes end by noon.

5-day Eid break for Abu Dhabi schools

Schoolchildren in Abu Dhabi’s private and charter schools will have a five-day break from classes next week to mark the occasion of Eid Al Fitr.

In a statement, the emirate’s private and charter education regulator, the Department of Education and Knowledge, announced that schools will be closed from Monday, May 2 until Friday, May 6. They will reopen the following week on Monday, May 9.

In effect, this means that the last day of classes before May 9 will be on Friday, April 29. Schoolchildren will then head into their regular weekend, followed by the five-day Eid break and another weekend.

Revealed: First day of Eid to fall on May 2 in most countries

The International Astronomical Center confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will fall on May 2 in most countries where the holy month of Ramadan started on April 1, state news agency WAM reported on Thursday.

Muhammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the Centre, noted that in countries that began Ramadan on Sunday April 3, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Jordan, Morocco and Ghana, the crescent of Shawwal will be seen on Sunday May 1.

He added that in countries that will witness the crescent on Saturday April 30, seeing the moon will be impossible because it will set before the sun. Therefore, these countries will have completed 30 days of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr will start on May 2.

For countries that will witness the crescent on May 1, sighting the moon that day will not be possible in Australia and neighbouring regions. However, it will be possible via telescope in Central and West Asia, most of Europe and Southern Africa.

Eid Al Fitr celebrations follow the end of the holy month of Ramadan which lasts 29 or 30 days based on when the crescent moon is sighted.

COVID-19 protocol for Eid prayers and gatherings

With Eid around the corner, the UAE’s authorities have issued COVID-19 guidelines that residents need to follow, to ensure people celebrate Eid Al Fitr 2022 safely. Here is all you need to know:

Eid Al Fitr prayers

• The duration of the prayer and khutbah (sermon) must not exceed 20 minutes. Worshippers will be supervised by police patrols, volunteers and imams to prevent overcrowding.

• Gates of mosques must be opened for Eid prayer after the dawn prayer on the day of Eid, provided that external speakers can broadcast the Eid takbeers half an hour before the prayer.

What is Eid takbeer? Read here.

• Use personal or disposable prayer mats.

• Worshippers are required to wear face masks at all times and follow physical distancing at a distance of one metre.

• Avoid gathering and shaking hands after prayers.

• Outside areas of mosques must display physical distancing stickers, with possibility of gathering in parks and parking lots near mosques.

Eid gatherings

• Wear face masks and practice social distancing, especially when near vulnerable groups.

• Ensure you have a valid Green Pass on the Al Hosn app.

• Limit celebrations to immediate family members and relatives.

• Use electronic alternatives for giving Eidiya, an Eid gift given to children, often in the form of money.

If you want to pay Zakat Al Fitr, which is given before the Eid prayers, you also have several online options in the UAE.