Residents in the UAE are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday, which is already the longest break of the year. However, some families in the Emirates are taking advantage of this time off by adding an extra day of leave to extend their vacation.
By taking Monday off work (June 26), families can effectively turn the Eid holidays into a nine-day affair when combined with the weekends. Many expats have already left the country, as most schools begin their two-month break after the last working day.
Khloud Waleed, an Egyptian expat working for a communications company in the UAE, shared her plan: “I thought of taking Monday off from work as that’s the only working day before Eid. This way, I get a nine-day break, which I haven’t had in a long time. Taking some rest is important to rejuvenate yourself and return to work with greater enthusiasm.”
Waleed continued, “We’ll take it one day at a time. But we have planned a trip to Abu Dhabi tomorrow to enjoy Ferrari World. We might extend our stay by a day. Additionally, I am preparing for my Tuesday fast, as it is a special day. Spending quality time with my family during this long break is high on my agenda.”
Maxine Braddock, a British expat residing in the UAE, expressed her thoughts on the extended break: “I’m not currently working as I have been offered a great opportunity in Saudi Arabia. I’m going through the visa-related processes at the moment and expect to leave the country in about two-and-a-half weeks. But if I were working, I would have definitely taken Monday off to have a full week’s holiday, using just one day’s leave. It’s a win-win situation for an employee.”
Hotels across the country are capitalizing on the Eid Al Adha holidays by offering attractive staycation packages, leading to increased bookings by families. To make the most of this time off, many people prefer taking an additional day off to enjoy a long and restful break.
Karina Shashkova, a Kazakh national in Dubai, shared her staycation plans: “My husband is taking Monday off, or he may only work for a few hours in the morning. We will pick up our children from school and head straight for Atlantis The Royal.”
Shashkova mentioned that her son will be turning seven on that day and said, “So, we thought, why not make the most of the day, celebrate his birthday, and make it memorable for the entire family since the Eid holidays begin the following day? Atlantis The Royal is a new property, and we are excited about the staycation. It has an aqua park, which is ideal for the summer, and we hope the kids will have a great time. The staycation deals are impressive, and I managed to secure a good one!”
Families emphasize that they are looking to maximize their time off and enjoy an extended vacation during the Eid holidays.
Karishma Singh, who is currently in India, explained her plans: “We are currently traveling. We have taken Monday off work to maximize our enjoyment of the Eid holidays. From a professional standpoint, this period is relatively quiet for me. Additionally, my son will be absent from school that day, which coincides with the last day of the academic term, so I feel it’s okay. Currently, I am visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Mumbai, and afterward, my son and I will be traveling to Delhi to meet my parents, who haven’t had the opportunity to see him for quite some time.”
She added, “As parents age, they may not always be able to travel for health reasons. But I strongly feel that grandparents play a unique and significant role in the lives of their grandchildren, providing them with love and wisdom. So, my son has also been looking forward to this trip and bonding with them during these holidays.”
