Rabat – The UAE is expected to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr 2023 on Friday, April 21, according to astronomical calculations.
This would likely mean a four-day break for the country’s residents, as authorities have previously announced the Eid holiday would last from Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3, the Emirati news website Khaleej Times reported on Thursday.
The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation also announced the public holidays on Thursday, noting that the holiday will be the same for both the public and private sectors.
The date of Eid Al-Fitr will be officially announced after the UAE’s moon-sighting committee meets on Thursday, April 20 to spot the moon.
Eid Al-Fitr, like many holidays and occasions in Islam, depends on the moon cycle, meaning that the date is determined once the full moon is sighted the day before.
The Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month during which Muslims observe a fast between sunrise and sunset for a month.
The holiday is celebrated with a morning prayer at local mosques, before families have breakfast together and exchange visits and food.
It is also marked by a culture of gift-giving, with children especially receiving new toys and clothes from other family members.
While most countries, including the UAE, are expected to celebrate Eid on April 21, other countries like Morocco are widely expected to celebrate the festival on the following day, completing a full 30 days of fasting.
