The Cabinet approved a five-day Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which when combined with the weekend before and after it, creates a nine-day break suitable for lengthy vacations. Astronomical calculations indicate that the first day of Eid will be on Monday, July 28, 2014. The Cabinet made a decision during its weekly meeting on Monday to approve the start date of the holiday on Sunday, July 27th, which marks the last day of Ramadan that the state traditionally announces as a day off for its employees. The holiday officially ends on Thursday, July 31.