Salary on March 17: UAE announces early pay for government employees ahead of Ramadan

DUBAI: Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, has ordered that government employees be paid their salaries early in connection with Eid al‑Fitr. Government employees in Dubai will receive their salaries in their bank accounts on March 17. The announcement is seen as a relief for workers in Dubai, where people are facing concerns and uncertainty amid tensions in the West Asian region.

Earlier, the United Arab Emirates Government had announced a four-day holiday for Eid. The holiday will be from March 19 to March 22, and government offices will reopen on March 23. In the private sector, the holiday will be from March 19 to March 21. If the month of Ramadan completes 30 days, the holiday for private sector employees will be extended until March 22.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department expects Eid al-Fitr to fall on March 20. The moon-sighting committee will meet on the 29th day of Ramadan to observe the crescent moon. After the meeting, officials will announce the start of the month of Shawwal. If the Shawwal crescent moon is sighted on March 18, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on March 19.