Dry night announced for Dubai next week as UAE marks religious occasion

Hotels and restaurants in Dubai will refrain from serving alcohol next Monday, November 19 and Tuesday, November 20 as the Emirates marks the Prophet Mohammed's birth.

The period will last from 5pm on Monday until 6pm on Tuesday, according to a circular issued by Dubai Tourism to hotels, resorts, restaurants, leisure and sports clubs, tourist companies, tour boats and event organisers.

Hotels, bars and restaurants in Abu Dhabi said they have received no such circular yet.

Employees across the UAE will have a three-day weekend to mark the occasion, with Sunday declared a holiday for both public and private sectors.

The holiday was expected to fall on November 20, but was moved to allow workers a longer weekend instead of a midweek break.

The next public holidays will take place at the end of the month to mark Commemoration Day, previously known as Martyrs’ Day, on November 30, and National Day on December 2.

Because November 30 falls on a Friday, it is unlikely it will be a holiday.

National Day on December 2 this year marks the 47th anniversary of the unification of the Emirates.

The date falls on a Sunday, and will be a long weekend for the public and private sector.

The National