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29 March 2024

Most private sector staff review Eid plans

Published
By Joseph George

Private sector employees in the UAE have a mixed response following the declaration of Eid Al Fitr holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Many who had hoped for holidays on Wednesday and Thursday had planned to club the weekend and extend it to a four-day Eid break.

However now, most of them will have to return to work on Thursday. “I had planned a trip to Salalah in Oman along with my friends and family. We had planned to hire a mini bus and travel together. But I cancelled my plans and we are now just going to Mussandam in Oman,” said Sherwin Elemento.

Similarly Z Khan from Samba Bank also said he deliberately avoided making elaborate plans for the Eid holidays because of the uncertainty. “We too have just two days of holidays for Eid. I am just planning to stay back in the country,” he said.

However, many companies including several banks such as Citibank and Dubai First have declared Thursday as additional holiday for its employees, extending their holidays to five days.

Koothur C Johny of Eisa Saleh Al Gurg said it is the company’s practise to declare holidays in advance to benefit its employees.

“The HR policy in our company was that if Eid was declared on Tuesday, we would get a five-day break and a four-day holiday if it falls on Wednesday. We do that every year. That really helps us plan in advance,” he said.

Reena Pinto who works in Dubai Internet City said she and many of her frinds have applied an additional day’s leave on Thursday.