PHOTO
Image used for illustrative purpose. View of Downtown Dubai with iconic Burj Khalifa in the background. Image used for illustrative purpose.
The Abu Dhabi government has announced the list of public holidays for 2018.
A statement issued on the government portal, earlier this week, said:
"The following list shows the public holidays in the UAE for the year 2018. The official reference to determine Islamic occasions, such as the beginning of Ramadan or Haj, is the Hijri Calendar.
It is based on the phases of the moon. Hence, the exact dates of Islamic events vary from one Gregorian year to another as they depend on the local sightings of the moon.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has given orders that the November 30 every year will be observed as 'Martyr's Day' and a public holiday in memory of and in tribute to the sacrifices offered by the nation's martyrs and its loyal people.
On December 2, the UAE National Day is accompanied by a series of events and programmes lasting several days."
"The below dates are tentative dates* only - subject to moon sighting - and should not be considered as an official announcement; public holidaysare announced, by official authorities, once confirmed," the statement added:
| Name of the holiday | Date in Hijri calendar | Date in Gregorian calendar | Holiday duration |
| New Year | January 1 2018 | 1 | |
| Ramadan expected to begin* | 1 Ramadan 1439 | May 16 2018 | - |
| Eid Al Fitr* | 1 Shawwal 1439 | June 14 2018 | 3 |
| Haj season* | 1 Zul Hijjah 1439 | August 12 2018 | - |
| Arafat Day* | 9 Zul Hijjah 1439 | August 20 2018 | 1 |
| Eid Al Adha* | 10 Zul Hijjah 1439 | August 21 2018 | 3 |
| Hijri New Year Day* | 1 Muharram 1440 | September 11 2018 | 1 |
| Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s birthday* | 12 Rabi ul Awwal 1440 | November 19 2018 | 1 |
| Martyr's Day | November 30 2018 | 1 | |
| UAE National Day | December 2 and 3 2018 | 2 |
Earlier this year, a list of holidays was also issued by Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department of the Government of Dubai - which also included all religious holidays for the new year.
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