The first day of the Islamic Hijri year 1438 is going to be a holiday for both the public and private sectors in Egypt next week, Minister of Manpower Mohamed Saafan announced Thursday.

The first month of new Islamic Hijri year 1438 Muhurram will start Sunday, according to astronomical calculations.

With the Hijri lunar calendar being 11-12 days shorter than the Western calendar, Muharram falls at different times every year.

The Hijri calendar, which began in AD 622, is used by Muslims around the globe to determine annual fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, as well as the Hajj pilgrimage and Muslim festivals.