UAE announces Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday for public sector employees
Eid Al Adha holiday dates for UAE government workers were announced and public sector employees will have a 5-day long break this year.
In a statement, the UAE's Federal Authority for Government Human Resources confirmed: "The holiday will be from Monday 25/5 until Friday 29/5/2026" With the weekend (Sat/Sun) added to this, it could give employees a 9-day long vacation. Work will continue on Monday, June 1.
When is Arafah Day?
That would make Tuesday, May 26 Arafah Day — the essential component of the Hajj journey and one of the most spiritually significant days of any Islamic calendar year for Muslims in all parts of the globe.
Arafah Day, which occurs on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah each year of the Islamic calendar is one of the holiest days in Islam and a declared public holiday in both UAE.
It is typically followed by three days of Eid Al Adha festivities. The exact dates are reliant on the moon sighting, as it is with all Islamic holidays.
Eid Al Adha occurs during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as millions of Muslims go to Makkah in Saudi Arabia to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.
How the calculation works
Astronomical calculation estimates the 29 days of Dhul Qadah will be on Sunday (1st May). The crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah will be sighted on this day.
For example, if the moon is sighted on Sunday (17 May), Dhul Hijjah will commence on Monday (18 May). But if the crescent was not sighted, Dhul Qadah will be 30 days, and Tuesday (May 19) is the first of Dhul Hijjah.
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha will all shift dates that come afterwards.
Astronomical calculations conducted earlier by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology in affiliation with the University of Sharjah, had estimated that Wednesday (May 27) could be the first day of Eid Al Adha within the UAE.
They had previously estimated that the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah is expected to fall on Monday (May 18).
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