The Islamic New Year also known as the Hijri New Year is just a few days away and countries have already started announcing long weekends. From UAE to Oman, governments are announcing three or even four-day long weekends for both public and private sectors. So, with the date for Hijri New Year out, here’s a look at the holidays announced in some Middle Eastern countries.
Countries Announce Long Weekend For Islamic New Year
Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman have announced three and four-day weekends. This has been done for both public and private sectors according to a report by Oil & Gas Middle East. For those who aren’t aware, the Islamic New Year is also known as the Hijri New Year, which marks the start of a new lunar year. As it happens, the first day of the month of Muharram is observed by most Muslims as the first day of the New Islamic Year.
Talking about the extended long weekends, UAE has announced a holiday for July 21, which is a Friday. This means people in the country are in for a three-day weekend before the month ends. Similarly, in Kuwait, the Centre for Government Communication announced that July 19, Wednesday will be a holiday for Hijri New Year and the next day, which is July 20 will be declared as the day of rest. It’s worth noting that Friday and Saturday mark a typical weekend in the country, which means work will resume again on July 23, Sunday. In Oman, the official holiday has been declared on July 20, for celebrating the new year and this applies to the employees of both private and public sectors.
Also Read: Suffering From Mid-Week Blues? The Next Long Weekend In The UAE Is Just Days Away!
What Can You Do During The Extended Weekend?
With the long weekend just days away, if you have been planning a much-needed getaway to the nearby countries, now is the perfect time to make your bookings. While you can visit countries that offer visas on arrival, you might even want to visit the destinations within the county itself. For instance, if you are living in the UAE, you can take a blissful holiday basking in the glory of the stunning landscape of Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. And if you are in Oman, you can take a holiday in Salalah or even Nizwa.
So go ahead, plan your holiday, and make the most out of this upcoming long weekend!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Images are for representational purposes only)