UAE announces Islamic New Year holiday for private sector employees

July 7 will be a paid holiday for private sector employees in the UAE, it was announced on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) declared the holiday — which falls on a Sunday — on the occasion of Hijri New Year. On the Islamic calendar, this date translates to Muharram 1, marking the start of the new Hijri year 1446 AH.

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Other countries like Oman have also announced a holiday for the Hijri New Year, for both public and private sector employees, on July 7, translating into a long weekend for government employees, and private sector companies who operate on a 5-day work-week.

In UAE, residents have a couple of holidays left before the end of the year, including one on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s birthday. The country will also celebrate National Day with a long weekend, the year's last official holiday.

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