UAE school directory updated with dates for Eid Al Adha holidays 2009 UAE which are Friday 27 November to Saturday 05 December 2009, according to a WAM announcement 09 November 2009 - “Government and private schools as well as teaching, administrative and technical staff will observe the Eid Al Adha holiday and the UAE’s 38th national day from the 9th of the Hijri month of Zu al Haja 1430 up to the 2nd and 3rd of December, according to a ministerial resolution issued by H.E Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education.”
Last day of school in the UAE before the holiday is probably Thursday 26 November 2009, depending on when the month of Dhu Al Hajjah / Zu Al Haja / Dhul Hijja starts (looks like it will be 18 November 2009), which depends on a moon sighting around then. The Eid Al Ahda break starts on the 9th day of Du Al Hajah.
Following the Id Ul Adha break are UAE National Day holidays on 02 and 03 December 2009, which have been included in the extended school break.
For the overseas holiday planners, it seems safe to plan to start your holiday on Friday. If the month of Zhu Ul Hijah starts a day early then that’s an extra day to pack, and if it starts a day or two later, then the holiday starts on Saturday or Sunday. As Friday and Saturday are the school weekend anyway, people should be safe enough making flight bookings for Thursday night without having to worry about whether or not they might need to appear at school on Sunday.
Eid Al Ahda started on Thursday 26 November 2009 in the end, so last of school was Wednesday 25 November 2009 before the Eid and National Day holiday.