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It feels like Eid Al Fitr just ended, and we are set to enjoy yet another public holiday in the UAE very soon. Wondering what we’re referring to? Well, Eid Al Adha 2025 is just around the corner which also means UAE residents can enjoy a long weekend.
Eid Al Adha 2025 is expected to begin on Friday, June 6, with Arafah Day on Thursday, June 5. However, dates will be confirmed closer to the time.
Here’s a breakdown that will help you understand all about Eid Al Adha in the UAE and how you can maximize your time off during this festive period.
What Is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr are two of the biggest celebrations for Muslims in the UAE. While Eid Al Fitr is observed in March, Eid Al Adha falls in June, marking the end of the Mecca pilgrimage. During this period, family and friends come together and indulge in grand meals, spending time with each other. Most people start their day with a morning prayer, either at home or in a mosque.
Eid Al Adha also gives people a reason to exchange gifts and give to charity. As for the festivities in Dubai, Eid Al Adha brings the city to life, with a range of exciting activities, fireworks, live music, and much more.
When Is Eid Al Adha 2025 In The UAE?
One of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Adha is expected to fall on Friday, June 6, 2025. The four-day break will begin on Dhu Al Hijjah 9 with Arafat Day before rolling into Dhu Al Hijjah 10, 11 and 12. According to the current predictions, the holidays are expected to begin on Arafat Day (June 5) followed by Eid Al Adha (Friday, June 6). Since this blends with the weekend (Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8), residents are likely to enjoy a four-day break. The Emirates Astronomy Society will confirm the dates closer to the time, as this will depend on moon sighting.
What is Arafat Day?
Arafat Day or the Day of Arafah is one of the most sacred days in the Islamic calendar. It falls on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. The day is dedicated to Muslims performing Hajj. On this day, Muslims gather around Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal Ar-Rahmah or the Mountain of Mercy, from noon to sunset and seek forgiveness.
How Can UAE Residents Maximize the Eid Break?
A little bit of planning will let you enjoy an extended holiday during the Eid break. The trick is to schedule your annual leaves closer to the Eid break. Here are some options.
1. Start your break early. Taking three annual leaves ahead of Eid will let you enjoy a 9-day break. This means you will need to take three annual leaves on Monday, June 2, Tuesday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 4. You can then enjoy a 9-day break – starting from Saturday- 31 May to the following Sunday, June 8.
2. Extend your holidays after Eid and make it a 15-day break. With public holidays from June 5 to 8, if you take leave from Monday, June 2 to Monday, June 16, you’ll have 15 days off. This includes public holidays on June 5 and 6, and weekends on June 7-8 and June 14-15, meaning you only use nine days of annual leave.
3. Alternatively, you could enjoy 12 days off. With public holidays from June 5 to 8, if you take leave on Monday, June 9, Tuesday, June 10, Wednesday, June 11, Thursday, June 12, Friday, June 13, and Monday, June 16, you’ll be off from Thursday, June 5 to Monday, June 16, totaling 12 days away from work while only using six days of leave.
When can you expect the Eid Al Adha Holiday announcement from the authorities?
Eid Al Adha is something that most individuals in the UAE anticipate – not only because of the public holiday, but because of the profound sense of introspection, unity, and charity it offers. This significant Islamic festival visits once every year, yet the precise date consistently relies on the lunar calendar — and more specifically, when the moon is sighted.
Astronomical forecasts indicate that Arafat Day, which comes before Eid, will fall on Thursday, June 5, and Eid Al Adha will most likely fall on Friday, June 6. Most families have the opportunity to travel, relax, or spend time with friends and family during this four-day weekend, which runs from Thursday to Sunday.
But here’s the thing — those dates are only tentative until the UAE’s official Moon Sighting Committee confirms them.
Every year, the committee gathers towards the end of the Islamic month of Dhu Al Qa’dah to check for the new crescent moon that signals the start of Dhu Al Hijjah (the final month in the Islamic calendar). If the moon is visible, then the next day becomes the first of Dhu Al Hijjah, and Eid is celebrated on the 10th day. So, for 2025, the announcement will most likely happen on the evening of May 27 — right after the moon is sighted.
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