| Kippreport.com

Do we need a 24-hour-two-week Eid in Dubai?

September 30, 2012 10:37 by Muhammad Aldalou

The upcoming Eid will be the fourth string of celebrations that the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment has been assigned to organise and while the past 3 celebration ceremonies have lasted approximately four days, this one will be lasting for two weeks. Mind you, since most private sector employees will be working for the entire duration of said two weeks, it may not feel like much of a celebration to them.

On the other hand, Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai has ordered this Eid Celebration extension to welcome visitors from the Gulf and other parts of the world to ‘experience the hospitality and unique cultural experiences that Dubai will offer’. While this Eid Al-Adha is set to fall on the 26th of October (Friday) , celebrations will start earlier on the 18th.

But this rather substantial stretch entails a lot more than the usual festivities, fireworks and a lit-up city. Shopping malls in Dubai will (as they normally are during the period) be open for 24 hours a day to meet the evident demands of the retail consumer. How many shoppers there will be at 4:30 in the morning, Kipp doesn’t know, but nevertheless, it certainly does add to the holiday spirit doesn’t it?

Since Tourism and Hospitality are one of the largest magnets of revenue for the Emirate, having the mainstream malls pulling ‘All-Nighters’ for two weeks in a row could make perfect sense. And with all the hard work that has gone into ensuring that Dubai’s image as the “entertainment and must-visit” destination in the region continues to blossom; it’s only fair that the Emirate should offer a unique factor that other cities wouldn’t.

Still, Kipp can’t help but question whether we really need a 24-hour two week Eid? Let’s hope that the mall staff will be paid for their overtime work.

Let us know how you feel about this.

Tags: Dubai EID, Eid, Eid al-Adha