Astronomical forecasts suggest that Eid Al-Adha will fall on Friday, 6 June, in the UAE, with Arafat Day expected to be observed on Thursday, 5 June.
According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society, the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the twelfth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, is likely to be Wednesday, May 28, based on current celestial calculations. Arafat Day, considered one of the most sacred days in Islam marking a key moment in the Hajj pilgrimage, falls on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah. This means that Eid Al-Adha is likely to be on Friday, 5 June and residents could enjoy a four-day weekend, from Thursday to Sunday.
Eid Al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant holidays in the Islamic calendar, marking the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage and commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.
Eid dates shift annually because they’re based on the Islamic calendar or the Hijri calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. Unlike the solar-based Gregorian calendar, the Hijri year is ten to twelve days shorter. That’s why Islamic holidays like Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha occur on different Gregorian dates every year.
While these predictions are widely used for planning purposes, the official dates will be confirmed by UAE authorities after the moon is sighted, in line with Islamic tradition. To see other upcoming public holidays in the UAE, see Connector's story HERE.