How To Score 9 Days Off For The Next UAE Public Holiday Using Just 3 Days Of PTO

Okay, let me guess – despite all the talk about Eid Al Fitr this year, you still feel like it snuck up on you. Which means you didn’t get the chance to plan any out-of-UAE trip, and now you’ve got major FOMO from seeing all your friends’ travel pics. Sound about right? Well lucky for you, for the next UAE public holiday, I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen again. While the predictions suggest we’ll only get a 4-day break this time, I’m going to show you how to turn those 4 days into a sweet 9-day extended holiday! And you’ll only need to use just 3 days of Paid Time Off (PTO). Oh, and a little drum roll, please, as I announce the next UAE public holiday… Arafat Day & Eid Al Adha! Let’s cut the chitchat and jump right into it.

Also read: When Is The Next UAE Public Holiday Now That Eid Al Fitr Is Over?

How Many Days Off Can You Get In The UAE?

First, let’s get one thing straight – if you’ve been working in the UAE for over a year, you’re entitled to 30 days of annual paid leave. And the best part? Public holidays don’t count toward your annual leave, meaning you can add them to your vacation without touching your PTO. If you still have unused PTO days at the end of the year, most companies allow you to carry them over into the next year. However, each company’s policy differs regarding how many PTO days can be carried over. It’s best to check with your employer to see if you’re eligible to carry over PTO days or if you can receive cash compensation for any remaining days based on your monthly salary.

How To Score 9 Days Off For The Next UAE Public Holiday

As we all know, Islamic holidays like Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are based on the lunar calendar, meaning their official dates depend on moon sighting. While we can’t confirm the exact dates this early in the year, we can go off of predictions from the UAE Astronomy Group.

Prediction 1:

If Arafat Day falls on Thursday, June 5th, followed by Eid Al Adha from Friday, June 6th, to Sunday, June 8th, UAE employees will already enjoy a 4-day long weekend. But with some smart PTO planning, you can extend it to 9 days by booking just Monday, June 2nd, Tuesday, June 3rd, and Wednesday, June 4th. This means your break will run from Saturday, May 31st, until Sunday, June 8th – all while using only 3 days of PTO!

Prediction 2:

If Arafat Day falls on Friday, June 6th, and Eid Al Adha runs from Saturday, June 7th, to Monday, June 9th, you’ll still get a 4-day long weekend. But if you want the full 9-day extended break, you’ll need to use one extra PTO day. To make it happen, book Monday, June 2nd, Tuesday, June 3rd, Wednesday, June 4th, and Thursday, June 5th.

Plan Ahead For The Ultimate Summer Getaway

A 9-day break is the perfect amount of time to have that dreamy summer getaway you wait all year to take. Whether prediction 1 or prediction 2 comes true, each comes with their own perks, so you have nothing to worry about in terms of having a great holiday.

Don’t forget the official confirmation will only come closer to the time after the moon sighting, so keep an eye out on Gulf Buzz for all the latest updates. In the meantime, get ahead of the game – book those PTO days before your colleagues do and get ready to enjoy a well-deserved 9-day break this summer for Eid Al Adha!

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