Eid al-Adha Holiday Closures
August 7, 2019
At a Glance
Government offices across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific will be closed due to the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday from August 11 through August 18, depending on lunar sightings in each region. Employers and employees should expect longer processing times for various immigration applications during and after the closures.
The situation
Government offices across the Middle East will be closed due to the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday (festival of sacrifice) as follows:
| COUNTRY | CLOSURE DATES |
| Bahrain | Ministries and other government offices will close August 10 and reopen August 14. |
| Bangladesh | Government offices will close August 11 and reopen August 14. |
| Brunei | Government offices will close August 12 and reopen August 13. |
| Federal Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan | Government offices will close August 8 and reopen on August 18. |
| Kuwait | Government offices will close August 10 and reopen August 13. |
| Malaysia | Government offices will close August 11 and reopen August 13, except in the state of Johor where the government offices will be closed only August 11. |
| Oman | Government offices, including the Ministry of Manpower and Royal Oman Police, will close August 11 and reopen August 18. |
| Philippines | No official announcements have been made but it is expected that government offices will close August 12 and reopen August 13. |
| Qatar | Ministries and other government offices will close August 11 and reopen August 18. |
| Saudi Arabia | Ministries and other government offices will close August 10 and reopen August 18. However, many agencies announced August 5 as their last business day before the holiday. |
| Singapore | Government offices will close August 12 and reopen August 13. |
| United Arab Emirates | Ministries and federal departments will close August 10 and reopen August 14. |
Impact
Employers and employees should expect longer processing times for various immigration applications during and after the closures.
Background
The government closures listed above are consistent with closures in past years for the holiday.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
