Eid Al Fitr holiday announced

The Eid Al Fitr holiday for public workers will begin on Thursday and will last until Shawwal 3, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources said yesterday.

Depending on when Eid begins, Shawwal 3 will be next Sunday or Monday.

If Eid falls on Friday, making Ramadan 29 days, government ministries and departments will be closed until Sunday, with work resuming on Monday.

Should it fall on Saturday, the offices would be closed until Monday, with work resuming on Tuesday.

The official start of Eid Al Fitr is subject to the Moon sighting.

Private-sector holidays have not yet been announced but are expected to follow soon.

All public car parks will be free, except multilevel parking terminals, from Ramadan 29 until Shawwal 3.

The parking tariff will be reactivated as of Shawwal 4 at 2.39pm.

Dubai Metro, buses, trams and water buses will be running to special Eid service times, with more details available on our website, www. thenational.ae.

Eid Al Fitr holidays are usually three days for the public sector and two for the private.

If Eid falls on Friday the private sector may not be given any extra days off but the final decision will be made by the Government.

Eid Al Fitr marks one of two holy feasts celebrated in Islam. The first day of Eid Al Fitr, which translates from Arabic to the feast of breaking the fast, coincides with the first day of the lunar calendar month of Shawwal.

Eid celebrations begin with prayers at fajr, or dawn. The prayers are always performed in a group and involve particular rituals.