As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims from all around the world will all be in a festive mood as Eid al-Fitr celebrations begin. And with the UAE’s recent announcement of making the public and private holidays one and the same, majority of the employees, specifically in the private sector, are headed for what could be the longest holiday they have ever experienced in the country.
The holiday of the public sector begins on June 2 – earning them a straight 9-day rest, while the private sector starts a day later, on June 3 – where they can get up to 6 days of much-needed rest and relaxation.
And the timing couldn’t get any better as Eid al Fitr’s schedule arrives immediately after the month-end, where many employees get to claim their monthly salaries, giving them sufficient cash on hand to enjoy the festivities both with a well-deserved holiday and their hard-earned pay.
Filipinos in particular already have their plans set in stone as soon as the projected dates of the announcement were made – some of them even having travel and leisure plans to take advantage of the extended holidays!
Festive fireworks displays
The UAE has announced that there will be fireworks displays available for free to the public across the nation to mark the festive celebrations.
Abu Dhabi: In Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina will be preparing fireworks displays from June 3-5 from 9:00 pm onwards. Residents can also choose to dine at Cipriani Yas Island that will reopen for Eid to give them a better view of the colorful night skies.
Dubai: For Dubai residents, Eid fireworks will take place at La Mer by 9:00 pm and at Al Seef at 9:30 pm on the first day of Eid.
Dubai Festival City Mall will also have their iconic IMAGINE show – a magnificent display of water, lights, and laser show happening on June 5 and 6 where the festive lights will fire up the evening of the UAE’s most vibrant city.
Blockbuster hits
The Eid also marks the screening of one of Marvel’s X-Men: Dark Phoenix, that comes just months after their recent record-breaking blockbuster hit, Avengers: Endgame. Another movie to watch out for is the action-packed John Wick 3: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Both X-Men: Dark Phoenix and John Wick 3 are set to screen starting June 5.
For Filipino movie lovers, the latest film that pairs Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto, “Between Maybes” may still be screening at select UAE movie outlets, a movie perfect for those who think they’re soul searching!
Shopping ideas
Over 200 brands spread across the malls, shopping bazaars and stores across the country are expected to hold their own shopping sales and promotions with some even holding up to 75% off of their items!
Dubai’s most awaited Ramadan Big Bazaar at the Dubai World Trade Centre will be open from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am the following day until June 4.
At Sharjah, the Ramadan Nights will be ongoing at the Expo Centre Sharjah from 5:00 pm till 11:00 pm during the Eid period.
Engage in sporting activities
Gather up your friends and duke it out on the hard court! Filipinos love playing basketball as well as other sports including volleyball, tennis, bowling and more. They can even go around cycling and visit all seven emirates during the holiday down time.
Dine out with the barkada
Filipinos would surely grab the opportunity to meet up and there’s no better way to enjoy their time together than having a feast! Most Filipinos would flock towards parks and enjoy their barbecue or perhaps dine at Filipino restaurants such as Chowking, Teriyaki Boy and Sizzlin’ Steak, Razon’s, Max’s Restaurant, Gerry’s Grill, LASA, The Daily at Rove Trade Hotel, West Lake Spring Restaurant, Beef King, Hen Lin, and more.
Stage shows and attractions at malls
Another possible hangout that’s free of charge for visitors are the stage shows and attractions that malls across the UAE will surely be preparing for their shoppers to feel the festive vibe. Shoppers can expect themed activities for families, roaming entertainers, Arabic stage shows, dance performances, as well as kid’s workshops and activities during the entire holiday period.
Visit UAE’s tourist spots
With the entire barkada together during the season, this may be the best time for you to visit the UAE’s iconic landmarks which you’ve never visited before including the Abu Dhabi’s Louvre, Qasr Al Watan Palace, as well as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
If you have extra budget, you can also visit and enjoy Burj Khalifa’s ‘At the Top’ experience to see the UAE in a different perspective. You can likewise head to the Dubai Frame or stroll nearby at the City Walk to see the view of the newest events centre, the Dubai Arena.
Another option if you have the budget is to try the longest zipline at Ras Al Khaimah to pump up your adrenaline together with your barkada!
Bathe at the beach
Temperatures are on the rise, but even that won’t hinder beach lovers from enjoying the sun! With free, public beaches as well as private, paid options available to you, it’s now just a matter of choice to determine which option would be ideal for you to enjoy the sun and the waters.
Go Yachting
If you feel like spending and feeling like a million dollars for a few hours, you and your friends can pool your money together for an enjoyable cruise at the UAE’s open waters with a yacht! Different packages are available – some with food included as well. You can even go fishing with friends!
Stay and chill at home
Of course, if you just want to enjoy a staycation together with your friends, you can gather up everyone at your flat and enjoy a day just exchanging stories over food and karaoke – just be sure not to disturb your neighbors as you sing JK Labajo’s “Buwan” under the night skies!
And there’s so much to do at home too!
Clean up! Before you get to your list of rest and relaxation, probably the best thing to do first is to tidy up your place to turn it from a messy, cluttered space into a clean and fancy abode to set that holiday tone as if you’re in a hotel! With the amount of time at hand, there’s no reason not to clean up, do the laundry, clean the restroom, and more before you begin with the rest of the list below.
Channel your inner Marie Kondo. What things still spark joy, and what doesn’t? With the amount of clothes, gadgets, and miscellaneous stuff that you’ve gathered over the months and years, the holidays offer the best time for Filipinos to re-assess their material possessions and determine which of these they still need to keep, and which ones they can already hand over to others or perhaps even sell!
Netflix and Chill. The upcoming holidays will let you enjoy your binge-watching sessions of shows you love as well as movies you’ve long put on your ‘to-watch’ list.
Read and learn. If you’re not a screen fanatic, maybe you’re into the hardbound classics and flipping pages of books you’ve bought but never really had time to read. The holidays will give you that space to learn insights from your favorite author or perhaps get into an adventure for that novel you’re reading.
Catching up with family. Being at home would also be the best time to call your family back home to check up on them and catch up with what’s happening with their daily lives. Whether that’s a video call or a telebabad session, nothing beats hearing the voices of those who matter to you the most.
What is Eid Al Fitr?
The end of Ramadan marks the beginning of a whole new year for our Muslim brothers and sisters – and there’s no better way to begin this than with a festival that celebrates life and happiness through the Eid Al Fitr.
Eid Al Fitr, when translated, literally means the ‘festival of breaking the fast’ as Muslims all over the world enjoy a 3-day celebration after a month-long period of seeking forgiveness for their sins as they do fasting, charitable acts, and prayers.
The exact date of the festival is always dependent on the sighting of the new moon – which is why countries with predominantly Islamic faith even have moon sighting committees to help determine the crucial dates for the holy season.
During the season, Muslims and even expats of other nationalities may greet Muslims and wish them ‘Eid Mubarak’ which translates to ‘Have a blessed Eid’ – as a standard greeting for the occasion that represents the optimal timing for all Muslims around the world to thank Allah for His guidance through up to 30 days of fasting during the Ramadan period.
