Eid El-Fitr is coming early for public sector employees this year, as their salary for the month of June will be paid before the Islamic holiday begins next week, the newly-assigned Prime Minister Omar Razzaz announced on Thursday

Eid is expected to fall either on Friday, 15 June, or Saturday, 16 June, and the public sector usually releases their employees’ salaries between the 23-25 of every month.

The Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomical Center (IAC) had announced a day earlier that the Islamic festival will begin, in most countries, on 15 June.

Payday coming at least a week early means that families will be able to shop for Eid - sweets and ka’ek, and new outfits for kids - and go out to celebrate with their friends and family during the official three-day holiday.