Classrooms, offices empty

News of the holiday on

official Facebook page reached 283,302 readers with 46,000 likes and 1,400 shares when it was filed.

Some colleges in Oman had already informed their pupils that Sunday and Monday would be holidays.

Caledonian College of Engineering had sent SMS messages to its students declaring Sunday and Monday a holiday, while Sohar University announced on its twitter handle that Sunday will be a holiday.

Schools such as Knowledge Gate International School in Al Seeb also told staff and pupils it would be closed on Sunday.

Sultan Qaboos University and Majan College students said that the lecture halls “were almost empty”.

“Only seven students out of 40 showed up today,” a student at Majan College said.

A student at the Higher College of Technology also said many students didn’t come today.

“Some people are not at home and that is why they will not come back for one day when the next day is a holiday,” he added.

The Indian School in Muscat (ISM) had issued a notice to parents much in advance on the holiday announcement stating that the school will remain closed for new year, as declared by the Oman government.

A senior manager in a well-reputed company said that transactions with banks were affected.

“Staff strength is somewhat okay, but banking deals are affected as we were expecting a holiday which got pushed by one more day,” the senior manager added.

However, an industrialist said that the business community should have made necessary arrangements to deal with such situations.

“Everyone knew that the official holiday would be either Sunday or Monday. So, to avoid trouble, they should have been prepared,” Anvwar Al Balushi, chairman of the Anwar Asian Investment Group, said.

Anvwar added that his child was informed by the school to be prepared for a change in holiday and he was.

“He did his homework and was prepared to go to school. People should be prepared. Such situations don’t occur often,” he added.

A senior sales representative working with a leading furniture company said it was a disappoint- ing day as the majority of his clients were absent at their offices.

“I couldn’t meet my clients at almost half of the offices I went today. It was a disappointing day. Tomorrow also, it will be the same,” the sales representative added.

The decision to make Monday a holiday seems to have played into the hands of many, who’ve extended their weekends to enjoy four days off at the start of October.

“My colleagues are working today, but I am not!” said one man enjoying time with friends at a mall.

Another person said that he just skipped work today.

“There is a saying: what happens between one holiday and another should be a holiday. Sunday is a working day, but Monday is a holiday, so I decided to follow the saying!”

“Tomorrow is also the holiday which I will spend with my family. I wrote my boss a letter and told him I was sick today,” another holiday-maker added.

Meanwhile, the unofficial holiday has seen a significant decrease in traffic on the roads.

“Traffic on the road is less today because people have not gone to work,” said one taxi driver.