UAE residents are in for an extended break this year as Eid Al Adha falls on a Tuesday, stretching the holiday into a six-day long weekend when combined with the regular Friday-Saturday weekend.
Based on current predictions, the public holiday runs from Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29, covering Arafat Day on the first day followed by the three days of Eid Al Adha itself — Dhu Al Hijjah 10, 11, and 12 on the Islamic calendar.
Eid Al Adha is among the most significant observances in Islam, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The occasion is typically marked with morning prayers at mosques, family gatherings, festive meals, gift-giving, and donations to charitable causes. In Dubai, the holiday period is accompanied by city-wide celebrations including fireworks displays and live entertainment.
The day before Eid, known as Arafat Day or the Day of Arafah, carries its own religious weight. Falling on the ninth of Dhu Al Hijjah — about 70 days after Ramadan ends — it commemorates a central event in the Hajj and is observed by many Muslims worldwide through fasting, though the practice is recommended rather than required.
Like all Islamic holidays, the exact dates of Eid Al Adha shift each year against the Gregorian calendar. This is because the Hijri calendar follows lunar cycles, making it roughly 10 to 12 days shorter than the solar-based Gregorian system.
A public holiday law that took effect in January 2025 allows certain holidays to be carried over to a weekday if they fall on a weekend — but that provision does not extend to either Eid.
