Qatar’s ministries, government institutions and public entities will get 11 days off for Eid al-Fitr this year, with vacation due to start on Wednesday, July 15, QNA reports.
The official holiday will end on Thursday, July 23 and the first day of business for these bodies will be Sunday, July 26, according to an announcement today from the Emiri Diwan.
The leave is in line with the holidays granted to the public sector last year, while in 2013 such organizations had a 12-day break.
The exact date of Eid will be determined by the sighting of the new moon, but it is anticipated that the holiday will begin this Friday, July 17 or Saturday, July 18.
Private sector
Employees in the private sector and banking staff are normally given leave of around three days for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which means “festival of breaking of the fast” and signifies the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The governor of the Qatar Central Bank will set the start and end dates for banks, QCB staff, QCB-supervised financial institutions and Qatar Financial Markets Authority, QNA added.
Other non-government employees will have to wait until Eid has been officially announced to be certain of any vacation period.
UAEÂ holidays
Meanwhile, in the UAE, the Ministry of Labor announced today that public sector holidays would begin a day later than Qatar, on July 16, with work resuming on July 21, Gulf News reports.
https://twitter.com/MOLUAE/status/620169864737492993/photo/1
Emirati state employees are expected to receive their salaries ahead of the holiday, on July 14.
Private sector employees in the Emirates will get a two-day holiday, which will take effect once Eid has officially been declared.
What are your plans for Eid al-Fitr this year? Thoughts?
With Ramadan, the summer and now an extended Eid break does any government section do any work round here? Might as well just shut for three months
Bit of an assumption here that they’re doing any work when they’re not taking a break…
#CommentLikeAnExpatInQatar
Not really, in many cultures it is the norm to disparage the lack of productivity in the government sector…
Bingo!
It may be a bit exaggeration but common observation is the productivity in all government sector is fairly low, which is okay, if not seriously harming other residents who are trying to get a job done.
I think you’re being a little harsh – this has been the most efficient and productive time of the year.
With all the Qataris gone ( i have to assume it’s the qataris who have left for Ramadan & Eid ) I’ve been able to get accommodation, visa’s and salary paid faster and more efficiently than ever before.
Normally we have to wait for the Qatari, or more than likely the Qatar i’s in charge to sign off on everything, but they have buggered off and delegated authority to their minions, the people who actually do the work..it’s been incredibly efficient and some what scary.
Ramadan is for everyone (Private & Public), how about granting 11days leave on private sector as well…lol
Waiting for this and that to be announced; some get eleven days off and others get three days off. Didn’t every Muslim fast the same amount of days?? Oh, good luck making travel plans…NOT!!
Indeed
What about non-muslims? I guess they don’t deserve any time off as they didn’t fast. (Well except for the fasting that is imposed on us by law with the police ready to fine us for a religious tradtion that doesn’t apply to us)
I guess its only on gulf states where the holidays for public and private sector varies. It creates a 2 tier system. Why would any qatari choose a private enterprise when you get more holidays in the public sector?
Exactly, and in the private sector there are longer working hours than the public sector!
“What are your plans for Eid al-Fitr this year? Thoughts?” Difficult for Private Sector Employees to make plans, not knowing when it starts or how many days leave will be given.