Three-day weekend ahead as Al Hijri New Year holiday will be celebrated tomorrow around the country

All government and private sector employees will enjoy a three-day weekend this week because tomorrow will be a public holiday to mark Al Hijri New Year.

Work will resume in both sectors on Sunday.

Saqr Ghobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, made the announcement through an official circular yesterday and congratulated the country’s Rulers, Government, people and residents on the occasion of the first day of the Hijri year 1439.

Hotels and restaurants will not serve alcohol between 6pm today until 7pm tomorrow.

The period has been moved forward by one day, Dubai Tourism said.

It had originally instructed licensed premises to stop serving drinks and hosting live entertainment between 6pm tomorrow and 7pm on Friday.

The move had meant that Friday brunches, which are hosted by many hotels and beach clubs, were due to be cancelled.

Other emirates are yet to confirm licensing hours but these are typically unified on religious holidays.

The new year marks the arrival of the Prophet Mohammed in Madinah after he emigrated from Makkah, an occasion that led to the establishment of the first community based on Islamic teachings.

Known as the Hijra, the migration from Makkah to Madinah marked the beginning of the Islamic era, or 1AH, in 622AD.

Hotels and restaurants will not serve alcohol between 6pm today until 7pm tomorrow