Our Correspondent
Employees in the public sector in the UAE will get a three-day weekend to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s(Peace Be Upon Him) birthday on October 29, according to a notice from the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. Work will resume on November 1.
Public and private sectors in the country now get the same number of holidays. The decision was made to encourage Emiratis to move away from government jobs, where the vast majority of citizens work.
The Prophet’s birthday, known as Milad un Nabi, is not typically celebrated in the Gulf. In India and Pakistan, hymns and prayers are recited at mosques and at home. This year, the holiday in India will fall on October 30.
Owing to pandemic-induced restrictions on gatherings, the celebrations are likely to be muted across the world. India is also preparing for the festival season with Dussehra and Diwali in the coming weeks.
Oman has also declared a holiday on October 29 for employees of public and private sector establishments.
Another extended break is in the offing from December 1-5. On December 1, the country will mark Commemoration Day or Martyrs’ Day, while December 2 and 3 will be celebrated as UAE National Day.
The UAE was formed on December 2, 1971.
