Eid al-Adha 2025: Key challenges businesses face during the celebrations

Economy ME

07-06-2025

Eid al-Adha plays a major role in the business world, especially in regions with a high number of Muslims. It's also known as the 'Festival of Sacrifice,' is celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The festival is marked by communal prayers, charitable giving, and the ritual sacrifice of livestock. For businesses, Eid al-Adha presents both significant opportunities and unique challenges, affecting operations, workforce management, supply chains, and consumer behavior.
In 2025, both June 6 and 7 will be Eid al-Adha days in Gulf countries and in Asian countries including Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Brunei, Bangladesh, Morocco and Mauritania. The fact that business days vary by country can cause issues for global companies with team members in different locations.
Why date variations matter
Leave coordination:
HR departments must accommodate different national holidays, ensuring that employee leave is managed without disrupting business operations, especially in multicultural or regionally distributed teams.
Cross-border communication:
Misaligned public holidays can delay communication, approvals, or project milestones, making advance planning essential.
Client and partner engagements:
Week-long holidays in some countries (e.g., Bangladesh) may require rescheduling or fast-tracking external engagements to avoid operational standstills.
Cultural sensitivity:
Respecting employees' religious practices enhances morale and inclusivity, with HR teams encouraged to facilitate flexible work schedules and time off.
Key business challenges during Eid al-Adha
Workforce and HR management
Eid al-Adha is a public holiday in many Muslim-majority countries, with varying lengths of leave. For example, the UAE grants a four-day break from June 5 to June 8, 2025, with full pay entitlements under local labor laws. If employees work during the holiday, they are entitled to compensatory time off or additional pay.
Challenges:
Coordinating leave requests while maintaining business continuity.
Managing overtime or compensatory days for essential staff.
Ensuring compliance with local labor laws to avoid disputes.
Supply chain and logistics disruptions
The changes in workdays brought by the festival and their holidays can disturb the movement of goods for industries that rely on international or rapid delivery. Such government breaks in Bangladesh (10 days) may put customs activities on hold, cause delays in shipments and influence the way inventory is managed.
Challenges:
Delays in shipping and customs clearance.
Increased demand for certain goods (e.g., livestock, food products) leading to supply bottlenecks.
Need for contingency planning and inventory adjustments.
Retail and consumer goods sector
Holidays like Eid al-Adha are known for people buying gifts, new clothes, decorations for their homes and food. There are special discounts at stores and the shopping malls see some of their best business for the year.
Challenges:
Managing inventory to meet surges in demand.
Handling increased footfall and ensuring staff availability.
Competing with rivals for consumer attention through promotions and marketing.
Read more | Eid al-Adha 2025: How the festival fuels economic growth across the GCC and globally
Tourism and hospitality
Eid holidays are when people in the GCC and other Muslim majority regions go on trips the most. Within the region, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar experience increased tourism which leads to more business at hotels and local entertainment.
Challenges:
Scaling operations to accommodate increased visitor numbers.
Managing bookings, staffing, and service quality during peak periods.
Navigating last-minute cancellations or changes due to shifting holiday dates.
Livestock and agriculture markets
Right before Eid al-Adha, demand for sacrificial animals goes up a lot. Because of this rise, livestock prices climb, trade is more active and importing animal products from Africa, Australia and Asia by GCC countries increases.
Challenges:
Price volatility due to increased demand and external factors like global feed prices.
Supply chain disruptions affecting livestock availability.
Regulatory compliance for animal welfare and import standards.
Economic impact across regions
Eid al-Adha strongly influences different economic areas, mainly retail, hospitality, farming, logistics and jobs.
Country/Region
Key Economic Impact Areas
Notable Trends/Challenges
Saudi Arabia
Livestock trade, tourism (Hajj), retail
Hajj revenue, import reliance, price spikes
UAE & Qatar
Tourism, entertainment, retail
Influx of GCC tourists, event-driven sales
Bangladesh
Livestock, leather industry, Hajj spending
Export boost, foreign exchange outflow
Egypt
Livestock, food, retail
Inflation, affordability issues
Indonesia
Livestock, charity, Hajj travel
Digital livestock markets, charity growth
Key points:
Retail and hospitality sectors see a revenue boom due to increased spending.
Livestock and agriculture markets experience heightened activity and price volatility.
Temporary employment opportunities arise in retail, logistics, and hospitality, benefiting lower-income workers and small businesses.
Emerging trends and opportunities
Digital transformation and e-commerce
Consumers use digital platforms now to take part in activities during Eid al-Adha. Using online livestock markets, buyers can procure animals, order slaughter and oversee meat delivery which simplifies the process and makes the market more available to all.
Trends:
Growth of e-commerce for gifts, clothing, and food.
Retailers leveraging online promotions and home delivery services.
Increased adoption of digital payment methods.
Sustainability and animal welfare
Because more people are concerned about animal protection and the environment, new laws and efforts to promote sustainability have arisen in livestock farming. Some choose to symbolically sacrifice or give away the same amount for charity which reflects new culture and changes in economy.
Trends:
Regulatory oversight on animal welfare.
Promotion of sustainable livestock practices.
Rise in alternative giving and charitable donations.
Strategies for businesses to navigate Eid al-Adha challenges
To successfully navigate the complexities of Eid al-Adha, businesses should adopt proactive strategies:
Advance planning:
Anticipate holiday dates and adjust operational schedules, inventory, and staffing accordingly.
Flexible HR policies:
Accommodate diverse leave requests and ensure compliance with local labor laws.
Supply chain resilience:
Build contingency plans for potential disruptions, including alternative suppliers and logistics partners.
Digital engagement:
Invest in e-commerce platforms, online marketing, and digital payment solutions to capture festive demand.
Cultural sensitivity:
Promote an inclusive workplace by recognizing and respecting religious observances.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do varying Eid al-Adha dates affect multinational businesses?
Variations in Eid al-Adha observance dates across countries can disrupt cross-border operations, requiring careful coordination of leave, project timelines, and client engagements to maintain business continuity.
What sectors are most impacted by Eid al-Adha?
Retail, hospitality, livestock, agriculture, logistics, and tourism sectors experience the most significant impact, with surges in demand, price volatility, and operational challenges.
How can businesses prepare for supply chain disruptions during Eid al-Adha?
Businesses should plan shipments and inventory well in advance, communicate with suppliers about holiday closures, and develop contingency plans for potential delays.
Are there opportunities for digital transformation during Eid al-Adha?
Yes, the rise of online livestock markets, e-commerce, and digital payment solutions presents new opportunities for businesses to reach consumers and streamline operations.
What are the HR implications for businesses during Eid al-Adha?
Employers must manage leave requests, ensure compliance with labor laws regarding public holidays, and provide compensatory time off or additional pay for employees working during the festival.
Final word
This year's Eid al-Adha brings many challenges and chances for companies everywhere. Managing employee leave, dealing with challenge along the supply chain and seizing retail opportunities require companies to use flexible, understanding and tech-savvy techniques. Using the knowledge of this era and taking advantage of developing trends, companies can both handle risks and explore options for growth.