UAE residents are set for a four-to-five-day break to mark Eid Al Adha 2024, with the exact length hinging on the official moon sighting due on Thursday, June 6. Here is everything you need to know before the holiday begins.
Why the UAE Eid Al Adha Holiday Is 4 or 5 Days
Eid Al Adha is one of Islam's holiest festivals, celebrated annually in the UAE with a public holiday covering Arafah Day (one day) and the Eid Al Adha festival itself (three days). Together with the weekend, that adds up to four or five consecutive days off.
Islamic holidays follow the Hijri lunar calendar, where months begin and end based on the physical sighting of the crescent moon. For the UAE and most Arab countries, the relevant moon-sighting night for Eid Al Adha 2024 falls on the 29th of Dhul Qa'adah — which corresponds to June 6 on the Gregorian calendar.
Two Holiday Scenarios Based on the Moon Sighting
Scenario 1 — Moon spotted on June 6
If the crescent moon is sighted on the evening of June 6, the month of Dhul Hijjah begins the following day (June 7). Under this scenario:
- Arafah Day (Dhul Hijjah 9): Saturday, June 15 - Eid Al Adha (Dhul Hijjah 10): Sunday, June 16 - Holiday break: Saturday, June 15 – Tuesday, June 18
This gives residents four days off in total, including the two-day weekend.
Scenario 2 — Moon not spotted on June 6
If the crescent moon is not sighted on June 6, Dhul Hijjah begins on June 8 instead. Under this scenario:
- Arafah Day (Dhul Hijjah 9): Sunday, June 16 - Eid Al Adha (Dhul Hijjah 10): Monday, June 17 - Holiday break: Sunday, June 16 – Wednesday, June 19
Adding the preceding Saturday (June 15) into the extended break brings the total to five consecutive days off — the longer and more widely anticipated outcome.
What Is Arafah Day?
Arafah Day — also known as Arafat Day or the Day of Arafah — falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. It is considered one of the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar, coinciding with the peak of the annual Hajj pilgrimage when millions of pilgrims gather on the plains of Mount Arafat near Mecca. In the UAE, it is a public holiday observed by both the public and private sectors.
About the UAE Eid Al Adha Public Holiday
The Eid Al Adha UAE public holiday applies to federal government employees, with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation typically issuing a corresponding circular for private sector workers. Banks, schools, and most businesses observe the full break across all three days of Eid Al Adha.
The final confirmed dates are announced officially after the moon-sighting committee convenes on the evening of June 6.
