Public Holidays

For 2011

1st January – New Year’s Day.

15th February – Mouloud (Milad)(Birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammed PBUH)

28th June – Israa & Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet SAW)

1st August – Start of Ramadan

30th August & 31st August – Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan)

5th November – Day of Arafat (Haj)

6th November & 7th November – Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) – also known as Big Eid.

26th November – Al-Hijra (Islamic New Year – Start of Muharam)

2nd December – UAE National Day.

During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid Al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr lasts 3 days and Eid Al-Adha lasts for 4 days. However, the number of days granted by the government as a national holiday may vary.

* Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. This also means that Islamic holidays change, with respect to the Gregorian calendar. Every year, Islamic holidays arrive approximately 11 days before the previous year.