Latest news with #EidAlFitr
Argaam
2 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
POS transactions reach SAR 11.1B last week: SAMA
The point-of-sale (POS) transactions in Saudi Arabia reached nearly SAR 11.1 billion in the week ended June 14, compared to about SAR 14.1 billion a week earlier. The number of POS transactions reached about 203.8 million last week, compared to nearly 228.2 million in the previous week, according to data issued by Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). POS transactions represent consumer expenditure through debit and credit cards at major shopping centers, retail outlets, pharmacies, and others. The data indicated that the value of sales via POS increases in the weeks that coincide with the disbursement of salaries to government employees (the 27th of each month), in addition to the weeks that coincide with school vacations and the weeks preceding Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha. On the other hand, the value of sales decreases in the weeks preceding salary disbursement and those coinciding with the start of the back-to-school season. The moving average value of POS transactions stood at about SAR 13.13 billion in 2025. Adopting the four-week moving average, the value of POS transactions soared during 2024 compared to 2023 and 2022. The average value of sales ranged between SAR 11 billion and SAR 14 billion in 2024, compared to SAR 10 billion to SAR 13 billion in 2023 and SAR 9 billion to SAR 12 billion in 2022. For the week ended on June 14, consumer spending was focused on the restaurants and cafes sector, representing 16.2% (SAR 1.80 billion) of last week's total POS transactions, followed by the food and beverage (F&B) sector at 15.5% (SAR 1.73 billion). Riyadh led in terms of POS transaction value by region, with approximately SAR 3.59 billion, representing 32.3% of the total. Jeddah followed with SAR 1.59 billion (14.3%). According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), e-payments in the retail (individuals) sector reached 79% of total payments carried out by individuals in the Kingdom during 2024. This achieved the target ratio in the Financial Sector Development Program, one of Vision 2030's programs, which aims to reach an e-payment ratio of 70% by 2025. Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed remarkable progress and rapid growth in e-payment adoption, thanks to the myriad strategic efforts and initiatives launched by SAMA, in cooperation with the financial sector, to support the growth of the payments sector and stimulate the use of various e-payment methods in the Kingdom.
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Hijri New Year 2025: UAE Announces Islamic New Year Holiday For Public Sector
The UAE has announced a one-day holiday for the Hijri New Year on Friday, June 27. The announcement for the public sector holiday was made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has also announced a similar holiday for the private sector. The Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, commemorates the migration (Hijrah) of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, an event that marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. Though the occasion is not typically celebrated with the same scale as Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha, it remains an important date in the Islamic world and is recognized as a public holiday in the UAE. In addition to the Islamic New Year, the next religious holiday on the horizon will be Mawlid Al Nabawi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, expected to be observed on Thursday, September 4, 2025. As with all Islamic holidays, the exact date will depend on the official moon-sighting and confirmation by relevant religious authorities in the UAE. Looking ahead to 2026, the Islamic calendar is set to align key observances with the cooler winter and spring months. Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting, prayer, and reflection, is expected to begin on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, although this too will depend on the sighting of the crescent moon. Eid Al Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, is likely to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026, providing what could be a three-day weekend for UAE residents. Meanwhile, Eid Al Adha, the most significant of the Islamic festivals, is expected around Tuesday, May 26, 2026, based on the anticipated sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon on May 17.
Time Out Dubai
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai tourism numbers indicate 2025 could be record year
It's no secret that Dubai is one of the best cities in the world with so many amazing things to do, tasty places to eat and incredible attractions to see. And the latest Dubai tourism numbers suggest that 2025 is set to be another record-breaking year when it comes to people visiting the emirate. Between January and April this year 7.15 million people visited the emirate, according to statistics released by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism ahead of the summer season. For context, this number is a seven percent increase on the same period in 2024. Overall, last year saw a nine percent increase in visitors from 2023. Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (Credit: DET) While the latest overall statistics apply to the first four months of the year, the latest stats for the Eid Al Adha period show that Dubai remains a popular destination for travellers – with 629,559 people recorded at entry and exit points during the public holiday. Dubai's biggest airline Emirates will target specific regions with different promotions with free hotel stays, discounts on city attractions and more offered throughout the year. Regular live events, such as concerts, target this specific audience with a significant portion of ticket buyers for the city's many EDM shows hailing from Europe. It should also be no surprise that Dubai remains a popular tourist destination with its biggest airport, Dubai International Airport, being named the world's busiest international airport once again. And in the first period of the year, Dubai also hosted cultural festivals for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr. While major sporting events such as the ICC Champions Trophy T20 cricket tournament, Hero Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, Dubai World Cup horse race and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships all brought significant numbers of visitors to the emirate. The latest Dubai tourism figures came during a City Briefing at Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday June 10. The City Briefing highlighted the initiatives such as Dubai's autism friendly certification and the MyDubai Communities programmes, as reasons the emirate is evolving as a destination. And it is hoped that the return of Dubai Summer Surprises will bring more visitors to the city throughout the season. Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, said that the aim remains to make Dubai the world's best city to visit. He said: 'Building on yet another record-breaking performance in 2024, the exceptional results achieved by the industry so far in 2025 is a testament to the resilience and steadfast support of our stakeholders and partners. 'From hospitality and aviation to retail and gastronomy, every sector has played a critical role in solidifying Dubai's position as a global tourism leader. 'It is by coming together as a community that we have been able to navigate challenges, create compelling narratives about the city, and drive global trends. Looking for things to do in Dubai? All the sports events in Dubai in 2025 to sign up for Make 2025 the year of your PBs 50 brilliant outdoor activities to try at least once in Dubai Let's take this outside The incredible Dubai hotels offering more than just a room Did someone say freebies?
Time Out Dubai
10-06-2025
- Time Out Dubai
Astronomers predict 8 UAE public holiday dates in 2026: Eid Al Adha, Eid Al Fitr and Islamic New Year
The International Astronomical Centre has announced its predictions for several of the UAE's major public holidays to begin in 2026. The astronomy experts have shared insights into crescent moon sightings, which could have a major bearing on when we can expect to get time off work next year. Start dates for holidays such as Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha and the Islamic New Year all shift around the calendar as they are tied to monthly moon sightings. The Islamic calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, unlike the more widely used Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun. Each Islamic month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon's visibility. Consequently, a lunar year is approximately 354 or 355 days long, which is about 10 to 12 days shorter than the solar year used in the Gregorian calendar. Because of the shorter year, Islamic months drift through the Gregorian calendar. And, as the current Islamic year 1446 draws to a close, the International Astronomical Centre in Abu Dhabi has revealed the predicted start dates in the region for the Islamic Year of 1447. The Islamic New Year 1447 is currently predicted to begin on the Gregorian date of Thursday June 26. Astronomers predict Eid Al Fitr start date 2026 Eid Al Fitr start date predicted (Credit: Canva) The final day of Ramadan is predicted to be Thursday March 19 in 2026. After the month of Ramadan comes the month of Shawwal and Eid Al Fitr. In the UAE public holidays law, the Eid Al Fitr holiday is the first three days of Shawwal. An additional public holiday is added if Ramadan is a 30-day month. But in 2026, Ramadan is predicted to be a 29-day month, which means that the Eid Al Fitr break should begin on Friday March 20. As a result, we're likely to get a three-day long weekend. Astronomers predict Eid Al Adha start date 2026 We'll find out when Eid Al Adha begins once the Dhu Al Hijjah start date is confirmed (Credit: Canva) Dhu Al Hijjah is predicted to begin on Monday May 18 2026. If predictions are correct, then that means that the Eid Al Adha public holiday will begin on Tuesday May 26 with Arafat Day. The holiday would then roll into Wednesday May 27, Thursday May 28 and Friday May 29. When combined with the weekend, the Eid Al Adha holiday will be a six-day long weekend in 2026, according to current predictions. Astronomers predict Islamic New Year start date 2026 Public holidays in 2026 predicted (Credit: Supplied) And, since the calendar has predicted the start date of the final month of the Islamic calendar, the Islamic New Year in 2026 can also be predicted. Clear skies and high visibility are expected in the lead-up to the first month of the Islamic year 1448, which means that we can expect Dhu Al Hijjah to be a 29-day month. If this is the case, then the Islamic New Year will fall on Tuesday June 16. The Gregorian new year is also a public holiday in the United Arab Emirates and, of course, does not rely on any moon sightings. In 2026, the holiday will fall on Thursday January 1. More public holiday news There will be two Ramadans in 2030 – here's why This won't happen again until 2063 When you can expect three Eid holidays in one year (yes, three) Eid, sleep, repeat UAE public holidays 2026: All the predicted days off next year revealed Including when we can expect a six-day weekend
Time Out Dubai
10-06-2025
- Time Out Dubai
UAE public holidays: A guide to the long weekends in 2025
With everyone back in the office, it's time to start thinking about when we're next scheduled for a long weekend off work. Earlier this year, we enjoyed a bumper long weekend for Eid Al Fitr, with the first public holiday 2025 taking place between Sunday March 30 and Tuesday April 2. While we won't know the exact dates of every long weekend of this year until closer to the time, several of the biggest public holidays in the UAE are tied to moon sightings, and we are still able to predict when we'll next get time off. UAE public holidays for 2025 will equate to at least 12 days in total, and if you combine these days with weekends, you could be looking at some serious time off work this year. As of January 1 this year, a new public holiday law outlined that if a non-Eid public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off can now be moved to another date. A guide to the long weekends UAE 2025 First long weekend: Eid Al Fitr Eid al Fitr 2025 The first big UAE public holiday of the year was Eid Al Fitr. The UAE government has confirmed that we will have three days off to mark the end of Ramadan in 2025. After official moon sighting, the Eid Al Fitr break began on Sunday March 30 until Tuesday April 2, meaning most residents had a four day weekend off work. You may like: Islamic calendar vs. Gregorian calendar: Why public holiday dates in the UAE change every year Second long weekend: Eid Al Adha Your complete guide to Eid Al Adha: When it is, where to go and what to do (Credit: Canva) The second long weekend of the year was for both Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha. The public holiday fell between Thursday June 5 and Sunday June 8, in the UAE and gave Dubai residents an additional two days off work. You might also like: Eid Al Adha break will fall over the weekend this year: Here's why UAE public holidays that fall on a weekend can be shifted to the working week as of this year but this does not apply to either Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Third long weekend: Islamic New Year The Islamic New Year public holiday is coming soon (Credit: Supplied) Current astronomical predictions indicate that the Islamic New Year dates should fall on Thursday June 26 in the UAE, which would split the Dubai working week in half. However, if Dhu Al Hijjah is a 30-day month, then Islamic New Year will fall on Friday June 27 instead, giving Dubai residents the third long weekend of the year. Fourth long weekend: The Prophet Muhammed's birthday (PBUH) Everything you need to know about the next public holiday (Credit: Shutterstock) The final long weekend of the year looks like it will be for the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH). Currently, this break is expected to come on Friday September 5 which would mean we get a three-day long weekend. This one falls on the Rabi' Al-Awwal 12 which is currently predicted to be on Friday September 5 but this could change depending on how many Islamic months have 29 or 30 days. UAE public holidays in full The UAE public holidays for 2025 have been revealed by the country's cabinet so we can start planning for next year. It looks like we'll have at least 12 public holidays in the UAE in 2025, with an additional day off if Ramadan is a 30-day month like it was in 2024. While we won't know the exact dates until much closer to the date due to moon sightings, we do know the occasions we'll be off for. January 1 2025: New Year's Day Shawwal 1: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 2: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 3: Eid Al Fitr holiday Dhu Al Hijjah 9: Arafat Day Dhu Al Hijjah 10: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 11: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 12: Eid Al Adha Muharram 1: Islamic New Year Rabi Al Awwal 12: Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday December 2: UAE National Day December 3: UAE National Day Predicted UAE public holiday dates 2025 For the latest on dates for 2025, head to our complete guide. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 50 free things to do in Dubai this month Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Dubai's newest restaurants to try The latest openings to tempt your taste buds Plus: Never miss a single thing about where to go and what to do in Dubai Get the latest news, reviews and incredible deals by signing up to our free newsletter
