UAE Eid Public Holidays Confirmed as 9 Days of Celebrations Start Next Week for Schools and Families

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UAE Eid Public Holidays Confirmed as 9 Days of Celebrations Start Next Week for Schools and Families

Eid holidays confirmed for schools and families in Dubai and the UAE

The UAE government has confirmed 9 days of bumper celebrations for Eid al-Fitr for all public sector workers – and usually this means that the same holidays will roll over for the private sector too.

Eid holiday dates confirmed for schools and families across Dubai and the UAE

The dates will be from Monday 8th April 2024 to Sunday 14th April 2024 with a return to work on Monday 15th April 2024. When you include the preceding weekend, the total Eid holiday period runs for 9 days from Saturday 6th April 2024 to Sunday 14th April 2024.

Eid holiday dates confirmed for schools and families across Dubai and the UAE

The exact date of Eid is still not known – for that we must wait for the sighting of the moon by the Moon Sightings Committee. Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon – and this sighting must be confirmed by the Moon Sighting Committee. All around the UAE families are now looking up to the sky each night to see if the beautiful crescent moon has arrived.

Eid, more properly known as Eid al-Fitr, is the day when we celebrate the ending of Ramadan and the fasting that takes place throughout Ramadan between dawn (the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise) and sunset. In the UAE, this is a times of extraordinary and inspirational fireworks and acts of charity as people give to all those who are in distress or need (Zakat-ul-fitr) before the Eid prayer can be said.

During the Eid celebration people across the UAE greet each other by saying “Eid Mubarak”, which translates as “Blessed Eid” in Arabic. As Eid comes lots of sweet dishes are prepared and houses are decorated to make them especially beautiful to welcome visitors and celebrate. This is also a time where where we forgive others, seek forgiveness from others – and learn how to forgive ourselves.

Eid Al Fitr Holidays and Schools

Eid Al Fitr School Holidays Famous Dubai Fireworks

Fireworks during Eid Al Fitr in Dubai are famous throughout the world. Free displays take place at locations including Bluewaters Island, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Global Village, and Jumeirah Beach.

The end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid Al Fitr holiday is still expected to fall on Wednesday 10 April, according to the latest predictions.

Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomy Society is quoted by official UAE government media sources as stating:

“Islamic consensus is expected that the first day of the month of Shawwal and Eid Al Fitr shall be on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

“The birth of Shawwal crescent will coincide with the occurrence of a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024; its birth before midnight will mean that it can be seen after sunset the next day in most parts of the Islamic world.”

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With lengthy school holidays and public holidays often not being announced until the last minute, it is common for parents to wonder when do their children actually do school work?! But parents do not need to worry according to top schools.

Schools are aware of the need to remain agile, and allow for this in their timetable plotting at the beginning of the year, says Simon Herbert, Head of School/CEO, GEMS International School – Al Khail:

“We are well used to being agile around holidays and our Government Relations Executives work hard to keep us informed. There are certain days which remain flexible, and we give as much warning of any changes as possible.”

The advance planning means there is no need for students to miss out on any learning, Mr Herbert continues:

“The IB stipulates a number of hours that must be covered, according to the programmes, so we simply align this with our school schedules and yearly calendars. “We have calendar and events meetings, and the curriculum coverage is paramount and well planned in advance.”

Michael Davies, Head of Secondary at Safa Community School (SCS), agrees that careful forward planning means that even last-minute holiday announcements do not come as a surprise:

“Ramadan and the Eid break will lead to reduced school timings and an additional week break attached to our spring holiday this year. At SCS, across all Key Stages, lesson planning and schemes of work have already been adapted in advance to ensure no disruption to learning. However, with the importance of term three and the assessments that will take place both internally and externally, we will carefully plan for optional spring break materials to ensure our students are not disadvantaged by the additional holiday time.”

Mr Davies says that Safa Community School has crafted bespoke homework for students, to ensure learning remains seamless even over the holidays:

“Our Academic teams have developed Spring Break Packs containing some compulsory aspects from our core subjects using our online learning platform, Education Perfect. This work will target the preparation for our GL Progress Tests. In addition, there will be optional non-core subject context for students to complete. Additional resources are also available via our extensive Google Classroom platform from teachers and provide opportunities to create new revision resources ahead of the new term.

“To further support students’ reading skills and their GL NGRT progress, we are asking that students visit the library before the holidays and select a book to read; it is suggested that 30 minutes of reading each day is sufficient; some will no doubt read much more, the English department will support this process.”

For exam-stage pupils, the Spring holiday can be a crucial revision period, says Mr Davies:

“During the Spring Break holiday, we will open our doors and encourage our exam students to undertake our live lessons on-site. Staff will be timetabled to offer support and tailored revision sessions during the break.

“However, this is the norm at SCS, where in the months leading up to GCSE and A level exams, we offer ‘Saturday School’. Over 90% of our exam cohorts attend from 9 am to 11 am on a Saturday morning to access free revision sessions from their specialist exam teachers. We have been running this scheme for the past five years, and it has been instrumental in our exam success. This support continues even when our exam students have finished their courses and begin their study leave. Teaching staff will always be available for face-to-face support, revision and intervention sessions to support out-of-hours learning. This will allow them to access bespoke and individualised support in the lead-up to and during exam periods. Our dedicated and committed staff will always be available by email and during school hours to support learning. Furthermore, our pastoral, counsellor and senior staff operate with an open-door policy to support families and students.”

However, it is also of course important that all students also take the tie to rest over the Spring Break, concludes Mr Davies:

“AT SCS, all primary and secondary school students have access to the well-being platform Komodo, and its data suggests our students need to rest more, particularly in the evenings. The holiday period will provide a great chance to recharge the batteries and stay active. Students too have access to our PE YouTube channel, which contains a wealth of fitness and movement challenges.

“It goes without saying that whilst we want all our students to have a break during the holiday time, spend time with their family and friends, and travel, it is also essential to continue the momentum that has been built. A three-week absence without structured work can significantly impact the attainment and progress of any student, which is why we encourage all our students to engage with the work that their teachers will set for them but in a balanced manner. The teaching staff and pastoral teams will discuss with our students how best to find such a balance so they can enjoy a well-earned break and keep on top of their studies during the holiday period.”