Eid Al Adha holidays announced

The Eid Al Adha holidays for the private and public sectors have been confirmed.

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DUBAI // Federal ministries will be closed between November 5 and 8 to mark Eid Al Adha, according to the Dubai Media Office.

The private sector will be on holiday from November 5 to 7.

Meanwhile, most schools in the emirate say they will be closed from November 6 to 10. Taaleem education group and several other schools confirmed they would be observing a week's holiday.

Clive Pierrepont, director of communications of Taaleem, which has eight schools, said they will be going back on November 13.

Some schools, such as Repton School in Dubai, have decided to couple their half term break with the Eid holidays and will be reopening on November 9. Authorities have asked parents to call the schools to find out the duration of the holidays.

The Abu Dhabi Education Authority said schools in the capital would be allowed to follow whatever calendar suited their needs.

Eid Al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important holidays on the Islamic calendar. This year, it falls on Sunday, November 6.

It commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to obey Allah by sacrificing his son Isma'il. At the last moment, Allah intervened and gave Ibrahim a ram to sacrifice in his son's place.

Muslims mark the day by sacrificing an animal, usually a goat or a lamb. The meat of the sacrifice is divided into three portions: for family, friends and the needy.