Oman announces Islamic New Year holiday

The Omani government has announced the Islamic New Year holiday for public sector employees in the country.

If the first day of Muharram falls on Friday, September 22, then the holiday will be on Sunday, September 24, local daily Times of Oman reported.

The first day of the Islamic New Year shall be an official holiday for all ministry and public authority employees, the report added.

The Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon, with the start of each month marking a new lunar cycle.

As a result, the Islamic system is 11 days shorter than the 365-day Gregorian calendar, instead lasting 354 or 355 days.