Eid Al Fitr 2014 dates have been officially announced for the public and private sectors.
Public sector workers will get a five-day holiday on Eid Al Fitr from 27 to 31 July, according to the office of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources – meaning nine consecutive days, including two weekends off.
Private sector workers will get a two-day break for Eid Al Fitr, the UAE Ministry of Labour has said – the first and second days of Shawwal.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chief supervisor at the Sharjah Planetarium, told Al Ittihad last week that astronomical calculations show the Shawwal crescent moon will form on Sunday, 27 July at 2.42 am and will set that evening at 7.12pm, seven minutes after the sun.
Therefore, Monday, 28 July will be the first day of Shawwal and the first day of Eid Al Fitr.
Earlier in the month, the Sharjah Planetarium announced that Arafat Day will be on Friday 3 October, Eid Al Adha on Saturday 4 October and Hijri New Year on Saturday 25 October.
National Day will be celebrated on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 December.