Close to 450 branches of the 47 commercial banks in the UAE will resume operations on Sunday.
Following the death of President Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on Tuesday, the government announced a three-day closure for the private sector and banking institutions, along with eight days of mourning for the government departments and ministries.
With a Friday coming in between, the Central Bank decided to keep the banks closed until Saturday, with operations to resume on Sunday.
Yesterday's Central Bank circular removes the confusion for bank staff as well as customers as to when the banks will resume operations.
The Central Bank will open only along with the ministries after the eight-day mourning period.
However, the Central Bank authorities have made it clear that some key staff would be available to take care of cash settlements and forex deals, where the banks would need the apex bank's involvement.
Bank officials told Gulf News that, as usual, the operations of all ATMs have already been taken care of with sufficient funds being stored in the teller machines for the coming days.
Banks will also remain closed for at least three days during the Eid holidays which are fast approaching.
