Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in 2017 range from 23 days in Saudi Arabia to three in Pakistan.
As Muslims across the globe gather to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, many are looking forward to long weekend and Eid holidays.
Traditionally, Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in all Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of vacation days varies by country and also depends on the date on which Eid is observed in each country.
This year, those in Saudi Arabia will enjoy longest Eid holidays of about 23 days. The Saudi government had already given its workers the final 10 days of Ramadan off work, in addition to some time away for Eid. The vacation started June 16, and workers will return to their jobs on July 9.
Residents of Qatar will enjoy at least 11 days of holidays while there will be 9-day holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Kuwait. Jordan and Palestine will have six day holiday.
In Pakistan, the official holiday is of three days from Monday June 26 until Wednesday June 28, however most people took off on Friday to leave for their hometowns to enjoy the long weekend and making it at least 6 day holiday altogether.
The following public holidays have been officially announced:
- Saudi Arabia: 23-day public holiday from the 21st of Ramadan until the 15th of Shawal, the lunar month that follows Ramadan. That is, from Friday June 16 until Saturday July 8.
- Qatar: 11-day holiday from Friday June 23 until Monday July 3.
- UAE and Kuwait: Nine-day holiday from Friday June Saturday July 1.
- Oman: Nine-day holiday, from Friday June 23 until Saturday July 1.
- Jordan, and Palestine: Six-day holiday, from Friday June 23 until Wednesday June 28.
- Egypt: Five-day holiday from Friday June 23 until Tuesday June 27.
- Lebanon: Four-day holiday if Eid is on Monday, or three days if it is on Sunday. In either case, the holiday will start from June 24.
- Nigeria: Four-day holiday from Saturday June 24 until Tuesday June 27.
- Pakistan: Three-day holiday from Monday June 26 until Wednesday June 28.
- Philippines, and Ghana: Three-day holiday from Saturday June 24 until Monday June 26.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera and CNN.