UAE Announces Four‑Day Eid al-Adha Holiday from June 5 to 8

Eid al-Adha, known as the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’, falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. It marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, an act honoured through special prayers, communal feasts and the ritual of Qurbani, where meat is shared with family, friends and those in need.

The Day of Arafat, observed on the 9th of Dhu Al Hijjah, is the second day of Hajj when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat to hear the Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon. For non‑pilgrims, it is a day of fasting and spiritual reflection, underscoring the festival’s themes of devotion and compassion.

Aligning the holiday with the weekend gives families an extended break for travel, reunions and charitable activities. Across the Emirates, mosques, cultural centres and community organisations will host prayers and events, while the tourism and hospitality sectors prepare for a surge in domestic and regional visitors seeking both spiritual observance and leisure.

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