Abu Dhabi: Schools in the UAE are supposed to reopen on Sept 1 as usual in most years. This year, it could be delayed to Sept 2 depending on the sighting of the moon, which marks the New Hijri (Muslim) year.
If the moon for the lunar month of Muharram is sighted on Saturday Aug 31, then the new Hijri year will be on Sunday, which will be a public holiday in the UAE and most other Muslim countries, according to official sources.
If the moon is sighted on Friday Aug 30, then the new Muslim year will be on Saturday Aug 31, which is already a public holiday in the UAE.
In this case, schools will re-open on Sunday.
The Federal Authority for Human Resources has said that Muharram 1, the start of the Hijri year, will be a holiday in the UAE.
