Emirates news agency WAM has confirmed that the Islamic New Year, Hijri, will fall on Friday 24 or Saturday 25 October 2014 – and there will be no day off in lieu on Sunday to compensate.
The announcement is based on the cabinet resolution no.13 of 2012, which specifies that an official holiday will not be compensated or moved if it falls on a weekend or another official holiday.
The news was first released in an official circular from Minister of Education and Chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, who confirmed that public sector workers would not receive a holiday for the occasion.
But subsequently Labor Minister Saqr Ghobash issued a circular declaring the first of Muhrram month, 1436 H, as a paid official holiday for all workers in private sector companies and corporations.
It is not clear whether the holiday will be transferred to a working day if the event falls on Friday.
