Arafat Day 2025: When will Dubai get a day off work?
A public holiday? There's nothing Dubai residents love more.
And we're all set for an extra-long weekend in June as Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha arrive.
Arafat Day comes the day before Eid Al Adha and is a public holiday in its own right.
When is Arafat Day 2025?
This year, Arafat Day has been confirmed for Thursday June 5, following an announcement by the UAE's moon sighting committee.
Ahead of the extended break, it's important to know what the occasion means and why Dubai and the rest of the UAE get the day off for it every year.
What is Arafat Day?
Arafat Day, also known as the Day of Arafah, holds great significance for Muslims around the world. It falls on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijjah roughly 70 days after the end of Ramadan and just one day before the festival of Eid Al Adha.
Arafat Day commemorates a key event in the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj and marks a day of spiritual reflection, unity, and supplication.
Arafat is the name of a mountain located near the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It was on this day that the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) delivered his farewell sermon to a gathering of over 100,000 Muslims during his final pilgrimage.
What do Muslims do on Arafat Day?
Every year, millions of Muslims from different corners of the globe embark on the Hajj pilgrimage, with Arafat Day being the height of their journey. Pilgrims gather near Mount Arafat, wearing simple white garments to engage in prayer and contemplation.
It is believed that every prayer offered on Arafat Day is answered and carries immense weight.
While Arafat Day is primarily a religious observance, its underlying values hold relevance beyond the Muslim community. These principles include compassion, forgiveness, and equality.
Why do we have Arafat Day off?
Typically, Muslims all around the world, who are not in Mecca doing the pilgrimage, will fast on Arafat Day. It is not mandatory, but it is preferred.
Muslims believe that fasting on this day holds great rewards and blessings. It is believed that observing the fast allows you to reflect, seek forgiveness and renew your spiritual connection.
Public holidays Dubai
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj
More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, a religious obligation involving rituals and acts of worship that every Muslim must fulfil if they have the money and are physically able to do it. Hajj Ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi provided an approximate number for foreigners at this year's pilgrimage. He did not say how many domestic pilgrims were taking part. Last year, there were 1,611,310 pilgrims from outside the country. On Wednesday, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, some making the journey on foot, carrying their luggage through temperatures nudging 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Others carried the elderly. People paused to sit on the ground to rest or eat before heading to their camps. Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam. Arafat is mentioned in the Quran and it is where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have given his last sermon on his final Hajj. According to traditional sayings of the prophet, the Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when God draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins. Pilgrims remain in Arafat, in prayer and reflection, from after midnight until after sunset. After sunset Thursday, pilgrims will go to the desert plain of Muzdalifah to collect pebbles, which they will use in a ritual. Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety measures, but the mass of participants makes ensuring their safety difficult. One of the greatest challenges at the Hajj in recent years has been the heat. Earlier in the week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel told The Associated Press that 10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, there is increased hospital bed capacity, and the number of paramedics has tripled.
The Guardian
10 hours ago
- The Guardian
Frogmen, a Vatican visit and an elephant thief: photos of the day
Children wash their sacrificial sheep in the sea ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha Photograph: Cem Ozdel/Anadolu/Getty Images Frogmen from the police force, known as 'evidence hunters of dark waters', take part in a training exercise Photograph: Lokman Ilhan /Anadolu/Getty Images Exiled Tibetans pray for the longevity of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who presides over the event Photograph: Ashwini Bhatia/AP A stork with two chicks in a nest built on a high-voltage line mast Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty Images Municipality workers use excavators to search for recyclable materials at the Boragaon garbage dumping site Photograph: David Talukdar/Anadolu/Getty Images People ferry cattle on a vehicle ahead of Eid al-Adha Photograph: Rizwan Tabassum/AFP/Getty Images President Lee Jae-myung gestures to the people outside the national assembly as he leaves following his inauguration ceremony Photograph: Lee Jin-Man/AFP/Getty Images A train arrives at a station next to the sea Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images The Simpecado float of the Brotherhood of El Rocío of Seville-El Salvador departs on its pilgrimage to the village of Almonte. About 1 million people from across Spain make the journey to pay homage to Our Lady of Rocío each year Photograph: Raúl Caro Cadenas/EPA Visitors from Mexico wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV for his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square Photograph: Gregorio Borgia/AP People on a pedestrian crossing on a shopping street in the city Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP An elephant, named Plai Biang Lek, ransacks sweet rice crackers at a shop in Ratchasima province Photograph: Kanokporn Sriboon/AP Activists unfurl a banner protesting against the war in Gaza outside the Houses of Parliament on Westminster Bridge Photograph:Officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann carry out searches in the countryside a few miles from the resort where she was last seen in 2007 Photograph: James Manning/PA An Acehnese woman receives up to 100 lashes of the cane in front of the public, as punishment for alleged adultery and breaking Sharia law Photograph: Hotli Simanjuntak/EPA Rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike where large-scale fires broke out in an industrial area Photograph: Sergey Kozlov/EPA Palestinians mourn the loss of family members killed in an Israeli attack on makeshift tents for displaced civilians Photograph: Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images Israeli activists gather for the start of a three-day march calling for an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA People gather for a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at Khomeini's shrine Photograph: Iran's Supreme Leader Office Handout/EPA
Time Out Dubai
10 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
Changes to the Dubai Metro schedule that you need to know
The RTA has announced that the Dubai Metro timings will be extended during the Eid Al Adha public holiday. The holiday will begin with Arafat Day on Thursday June 5, followed by Eid Al Adha celebrations on Friday June 6, Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8. In a statement this week, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority confirmed that all stations on both the red and green lines will operate from 5am to 1am (the following day), from Wednesday June 4 to Saturday June 7. If you like this: Islamic New Year 2025: When is it and will Dubai get a public holiday? Usually only running to 1am one night per week, the hours have been extended to allow residents to travel easily during the public holiday. Dubai Metro Eid Al Adha hours (Credit: Adobe) Wednesday June 4: 5am – 1am 5am – 1am Thursday June 5: 8am – 1am 8am – 1am Friday June 6: 5am – 1am 5am – 1am Saturday June 7: 5am – 1am Other public transport The Dubai Tram will also have its hours slightly extended during the public holiday, running from Wednesday June 4 to Saturday June 7 from 6am until 1am the following day. Public buses and marine transport will also continue to run throughout Eid Al Adha. However, the RTA urged passengers to refer to the S'hail app for any changes to the schedules over the holiday period. The RTA also announced that the route E100 bus would not operate from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station from Wednesday June 4 to Sunday June 8. Instead, passengers should use the E101 service from Ibn Battuta Bus Station to Abu Dhabi during this time. The bus route E102 will also operate directly from Al Jafiliya Bus Station to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi without passing through Ibn Battuta Bus Station and Musaffah. All RTA Customer Happiness Centres will be closed throughout the Eid Al Adha holiday. However, Smart Customer Happiness Centres at Umm Ramool, Deira, Al Barsha, and the RTA Head Office will operate, 24/7 as usual. In other Dubai news Emirates issues important advice ahead of Eid Al Adha What you need to know before you travel Emirates is giving away free ice cream during Eid Al Adha Cool off during the public holiday Eid Al Adha falls on a weekend this year: Here's why the holiday won't shift The next public holiday is fast approaching
