Eid Al Adha start date confirmed 2025: The days off announced
The UAE moon sighting committee has officially confirmed the Eid Al Adha start date for 2025.
It has now been confirmed that the Eid Al Adha 2025 long weekend will officially begin on Thursday June 5 with Arafat Day.
Dubai residents will enjoy a four-day holiday with Friday June 7, Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9 making up the Eid Al Adha festivities.
The UAE moon sighting committee saw the crescent of Dhu Al Hijjah on the evening of Tuesday May 27, which meant that it was the final day of Dhu Al-Qa'dah – the 11th month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
You might also like: Why Eid Al Adha isn't celebrated on the same day in every country
Dhu Al Hijjah is the final month of the year in the Hijri calendar. Arafat Day falls on Dhu Al Hijjah 9 and Eid Al Adha on Dhu Al Hijjah 10, 11 and 12.
The Islamic Hijri calendar relies on the cycles of the moon, unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the sun. Months in the Islamic calendar are either 29 or 30 days long, with the exact length only determined on the month's final day.
UAE public holidays law states that Eid Al Adha is a three-day holiday, preceded by a day off to mark Arafat Day.
Eid Al Adha start date confirmed
Friday 6th June first day of Eid Al Adha in UAE: Presidential Court#WamNews https://t.co/i82IQvlml5 pic.twitter.com/OxgGRFENAh
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) May 27, 2025
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha is the second of the two main festivals of Islam, after Eid Al Fitr, and falls in the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar.
The annual occasion, known as the feast of sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj season for Muslims across the world.
Why Eid Al Adha weekend dates don't move
As part of the standard weekend schedule, Saturday and Sunday are days off for the majority of people living and working in Dubai.
The UAE public holiday law was updated at the start of this year to allow holiday dates tied to the Islamic Hijri calendar to shift from the weekend if they happen to fall on the weekend.
However, the law specifically outlines that days off tied to Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha cannot be moved.
So, although the Eid Al Adha break will fall across the weekend, the public holiday can't be moved forward or backwards to fall exclusively during the week day.
What changes in Dubai during Eid Al Adha?
In addition to the four-day long weekend, it is likely that public transport timings and parking will change in the city.
Unlike the Eid Al Fitr break, Dubai has more than a week to announce changes to the private and public sector working schedule, in addition to city service changes.
Days off in Dubai
UAE public holidays 2025: When are all the public holidays this year?
The dates to know
UAE public holidays law explained: What happens if a day off is on a weekend
The law has changed in 2025
We've found the best Eid Al Adha staycation deals in Dubai
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