The Covid-19 pandemic has sort of brought the world to a standstill. Festivals across the world have kind of taken a back seat, due to the lockdown. Clearly, the pandemic has had a major impact on festivals, and observations around the world. Ramadan is just around the corner and although the city does not have any festive cheer at the moment, rituals and traditions will be followed.
Ebrahim Al Jarwan, General Supervisor at Sharjah Planetarium, has predicted the dates for Eid Al Fitr. The new moon for Ramadan in 2020 will most likely occur on Thursday 23 April, which means that April 24 will be the first day of Ramadan.
“The new moon for the month of Shawwal 1441H will be on May 22 after sunset but it will not be visible to the naked eye, so according to my calculations, we will be able to see the new moon in the UAE on Saturday May 23. This means that the first day of Eid Al Fitr will fall on May 24, on a Sunday,” Jarwan said.
What Else?
1. Eid Ul Fitr (May 23/May 24 for 4-5 days)
Now this one is a longer of the holidays in Dubai. With 4-5 days off on cards, you are sure to get a long break from work. The month of Ramadan and Eid has all of Dubai in a festive mood. From Iftar buffets to Eid brunches, there is a lot of leisure and food for us to enjoy. However, if you want a quick getaway from the city, this really is the best time!
2. Arafat Day, Eid Ul Adha (July 29/July 30 for four days)
This is the other big festivity Dubai celebrates. With a four day break from work, this is an excellent time for a trip out of the city, especially if you are not taking a summer vacation. After all, with the temperatures soaring, we need all the breaks we can! So here are a few things you can do over the summers while you relax over the long weekends.
3. New Hijri Year (19 or 20 August)
Depending on when the moon is sighted, you can be getting an off either on Wednesday or Thursday. While we hope we can take an off on Thursday and have a long weekend, planning this one can be quite tricky! So we suggest road trips during this one are the way to be!
4. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s Birthday (28 or 29 October)
So this holiday can be falling either on Wednesday or Thursday. While we all wish its a longer weekend, we really don’t know! So while this will be a dry day, this time of the year is one of the cooler months of Dubai. So if you wanna go camping or barbecuing, this might be the best time to mark your calendars and go outdoors.
5. Martyr’s Day/ Dubai National Day (December 1 – December 3)
Now, this is a sure shot holiday we know of! So if you have already planned for this year’s national day celebrations, plan for the next ones! While a lot of folks like staying in and enjoying the national day celebrations, there are many making use of the holidays for a staycation or a weekend getaway.
So what are you planning to do with the long weekends? Stay indoors, or have a quick getaway? We would love to hear it!