Shops Normal shopping hours are from 9.00 a.m.–1 p.m. and 4.00– 9.00 p.m. However, many shops, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi stay open all day. Most shopping centres open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m – frequently later. Some supermarkets are open for 24 hours. Although shops and shopping centres are fully air conditioned, the cool of the evening is a favourite time for shopping. Shopping centres and most shops are open on Friday, the Islamic day of rest, but they all close for Juma (Friday) prayers from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
All shops are required to close at prayer times in Ra’s al-Khaimah.
Offices
Government offices open at 7.30 a.m. and close at 2.30 p.m. but you would be wise to visit in the morning. Private offices tend to keep longer hours, coming back to work in the evening after an extended mid-day break. Some private businesses open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All government offices close for the weekend on Friday and Saturday. Many private companies also recognise this two-day weekend. Some offices outside the public sector close only on Friday.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Since Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of phases of the moon, the dates for Islamic religious holidays are approximate and the precise dates are not announced until a day or so before they occur. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, the holiday is usually taken at the beginning of the next working week.
A three-day mourning period is usually announced when a member of the ruling families or a government minister or the head of a neighbouring state dies. Government offices and some private companies will close for the period.
1 Jan
New Year's Day.
20/12/07
9/12/08
Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca (the haj)
20/01/07
10/01/08
Ras al-Sana (Islamic New Year)
31/03/07
20/03/08
Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday).
6 Aug
Accession of HH Sheikh Zayed as Ruler of Abu Dhabi
10/08/07
1/09/08
Lailat al-Mi’raj (Ascension of the Prophet Mohammed)
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