Dubai: Government departments have announced their timings for Eid Al Fitr, which will start on Friday or Saturday.
The public sector holiday has already been declared from Thursday to Sunday or Monday depending on which day Eid will fall, while the private sector will get two days off. If Eid falls on Friday, private sector employees will have Friday and Saturday off. If Eid falls on Saturday, they will get Saturday and Sunday off.
Marking the Eid holiday, paid parking in Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be free from Thursday, June 14, until the third of Shawwal or the third day of Eid. Paid parking tariff will be reintroduced on the 4th of Shawwal, which is most likely to fall on Monday.
In Sharjah, the municipality announced that parking will be free in selected areas from Thursday till Sunday, except at Al Hison Road (Bank complex) in Al Shuwaihean area and Al Shoyoukh, both sides of Corniche Road in Al Shuwaihean area, Bird Market in Al Jubail, Central Souq in Al Majaz 1, and Buhairah Corniche, Al Majaz 1, 2 and 3.
Malls have also extended their opening hours in Eid to accommodate a surge in footfall. Retail shops at Majid Al Futtaim malls will operate until 1am, while restaurants will stay open till 2am. Restaurants and shops at The Dubai Mall will continue to stay open until 2am.
During the public holiday, a number of government departments have adopted specific Eid timings in order to continue facilitating public services for customers.
Some Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s government departments will be open, however, with shorter operational hours.
Roads and Transport Authority
Dubai Metro and tram will operate for extended hours during Eid holidays, from Thursday.
Metro services will run till 2am and tram will offer services till 1am from Thursday to Monday, June 18.
Bus and marine services will also see changes in timings for Eid.
Intercity buses to Sharjah will be running round the clock during Eid holiday from Al Ghubaiba, while buses to Abu Dhabi will operate from 4.40am to 1.05am next day.
The Union Square bus station will operate from 5am to 12.35am. Al Sabkha station will be open from 6.30am to 12.30am. Deira City Centre station will be open from 6.55am to 10.34pm, Karama station from 7am to 10.10pm and Al Ahli Club station from 7am to 11pm.
External stations like Sharjah Al Taawun will operate from 5.30am to 10.30pm, Fujairah station from 5.30am to 9.30pm, Ajman station from 5am to 11.30pm and Hatta station from 6:29am to 10.35pm.
Meanwhile, the RTA’s marine services including water buses, taxis, ferries and abras will operate unchanged.
Health care
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) hospitals and health centres will work as per shift timings and medical practitioners will be on call to ensure work continues as usual.
The emergency departments of all DHA hospitals — Rashid, Latifa, Dubai and Hatta — will function round the clock on all days.
Timings of primary health care centres: Al Barsha, Nad Al Hamar and Seniors’ Happiness Centre will function 24 hours on all days. Al Lusaily centre will be open on June 17 from 8am to 3pm. All other primary health care centres will be closed during the public holiday.
The Medical Fitness Centres will be closed from June 14 to 17.
Immigration
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) said that it will be offering its services during the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
The department announced that its work hours during Eid will be from 9am to 1pm on Thursday and Sunday.
Customers can approach Al Manara centre, Hatta centre and Al Twar centre for their transactions. The GDRFA office at Dubai International Airport at Terminal 3 will remain open 24 hours all through the week. Customers can contact the toll-free number 8005111 “Amer” for enquiries
Abu Dhabi
The General Department of Residency and Foreign Affairs branch at Abu Dhabi International Airport will operate 24 hours throughout the Eid holiday.
The Department of Transport customer service centres will be closed from Thursday till the third day of Eid.
Bus services will be available from 5am to midnight in Abu Dhabi city from Thursday to the third day of Eid, and they will run at the usual weekend timings in Al Ain. In Al Dhafra, buses will operate between 6am and 9.35pm on local lines, and between 5.10am and 10pm on regional lines. Buses connecting towns in Al Dhafra will run from 5.10Aam to 8.30pm.
Jail visiting hours
The Correctional and Punitive Establishments Department at Dubai Police announced the visiting timings during the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
On the first day of Eid, the visiting hours at Dubai Central Jail (Building 1) for men and women will be from 8am to 9.30am and for jail Building 2 from 10am to 11.30am.
The visiting hours at the Prison of Misdemeanours and Violations and Women’s Jail will be from 8am to 9.30am.
On the second day of Eid, visiting hours at Building 2 will be from 8am to 9.30am and at Building 4 from 10am to 11.30am.
