UAE announces Eid Al Adha holiday for private sector

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a paid holiday for private sector workers to mark Eid Al Adha.

The ministry tweeted that Monday, August 20 to Wednesday, August 22 would be off for all employees of private enterprises, institutions and companies.

#وزارة_الموارد_البشرية_والتوطين تقرر أن يكون يوم الإثنين الموافق 20 أغسطس الجاري وحتى يوم الأربعاء الموافق 22 أغسطس 2018 عطلة رسمية مدفوعة الأجر لجميع العاملين في منشآت ومؤسسات وشركات القطاع الخاص في الدولة بمناسبة عيد الأضحى المبارك.#عيد_الأضحى #القطاع_الخاص #الإمارات pic.twitter.com/v9jvXufGEe

— MOHRE_UAE (@MOHRE_UAE) August 14, 2018

This will mean UAE private sector workers receive two fewer days off than those in the public sector.

Read: UAE announces public sector holiday for Eid Al Adha

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman said he would be pushing forward the kingdom’s Eid holiday for government staff. Work officially ended in the Saudi government sector yesterday meaning a break of 12 days or more.

Read: Saudi brings forward Eid Al Adha holiday

Known as the ‘feast of the sacrifice’, Eid Al Adha honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to God. Before he could commit the act, God sent an angel to replace the sacrifice with a sheep.

During Eid, Muslims sacrifice an animal in commemoration of this act and divide it into three parts.

One third is for family, one third is for relatives, friends and neighbours and one third is given to the poor and needy.