Sunday 19 / May / 2024
Muscat: It is the talk of the town as they say. With the holy month of Ramadan expected to end next weekend, the one and only question that is spoken around from iftar gatherings to the living rooms is: How long would the Eid holidays be in Oman?
The Islamic festival of Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal — the month that follows Ramadan in the Hijri calendar.
While some of the neighbouring countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have already announced the Eid holidays, Oman is yet to announce it.
In his remarks to Times of Oman on the possible date of Eid Al Fitr this year, Dr. Sabih Al Saadi, said: “The crescent of the month of Shawwal will be born on Thursday, corresponding to April 20, 2023 at 8:13 and 38 seconds in the morning, and seeing the crescent on that day is impossible in all governorates of the Sultanate and most Arab, Gulf and Islamic countries.”
“According to astronomical calculations, the sighting of the crescent is not possible on Friday on April 21, 2023, so Saturday will be the beginning of the month of Shawwal 1444 AH corresponding to April 22, 2023, which is the first day of Eid Al Fitr for the year 2023.”
Expected holidays:
Based on the above calculation, it is expected that the Eid Al Fitr holidays will start from Thursday 29 Ramadan, corresponding to April 20, and end on Monday 3 Shawwal (24 April), with official working hours resuming on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
However, the big question is whether the first day of Eid Al Fitr will be compensated if it falls on Saturday?
According to the Royal Decree, holidays will be compensated if it falls on Friday.
However, during last year's Eid Al Adha holidays, the Oman government gave compensation for the first day of Eid, which fell on Saturday.
The leave was scheduled to end on Monday, corresponding to Dhu al-Hijjah 12, 1443 AH, but Tuesday was added as an official holiday and work resumed on Wednesday. The hopes of a similar decision is high with work likely to resume on Wednesday.
