So, we are back to work after the last long weekend of 2016, and New Year is just round the corner.

And what better way to start the New Year than with a holiday.

1 January 2017 falls on a Sunday, so UAE will start the next year with a three-day weekend.

Throughout the rest of the year there are five long weekends, so there’s plenty of time of everyone to pack their bags and head to those mini-vacations.

After 1 January, the next holiday will be the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, scheduled to fall on 25 May 2017, a Thursday, subject to moon sighting.

The next month will see another long weekend, with Eid Al Fitr falling on 25 June 2017, a Sunday, again subject to sighting of the moon.

Two months later, on 31 August 2017, will be Arafat (Haj) Day, which falls on a Thursday.

The following month, on 21 September 2017, a Thursday, will be the Hijri New Year’s Day, subject to moon sighting.

Commemoration Day, which is observed on 30 November 2017, will also fall on a Thursday. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) is likely to fall on the same day, subject to moon sighting.

Bonus: 31 December 2017 will fall on a Sunday, and 1 January 2018 is a Monday. So if you take the Sunday off, you can enjoy a four-day-long weekend.