UAE residents are set to enjoy a long weekend for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha, UAE authorities have confirmed, after the country's moon-sighting committee observed the crescent moon heralding the start of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Arafat Day, the second day of the week-long Hajj pilgrimage, falls on Dhu Al Hijja 9 in the Islamic calendar. This corresponds with June 5. Eid Al Adha – which falls on Dhu Al Hijja 10 to 12 – will run from June 6 to June 8.
This would mean a four-day break, including the weekend, for UAE workers in the public and private sector. The public holiday will conclude on Sunday, June 8, with employees returning to work on Monday, June 9.
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha – which means “festival of the sacrifice” – commemorates how the Prophet Ibrahim was asked by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.
As with other religious holidays in the Emirates, it is a time for friends and family to gather, often over meals, and reflect on their lives and faith.
It is customary for a family to have a goat or sheep butchered at an abattoir and to share the meat between themselves, their relatives and the underprivileged.
What is Hajj?
Large numbers of Muslims travel to Makkah to perform Hajj each year, with many also heading further north to the city of Madinah.
All Muslims able to do so are required to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime. Hajj and the other four pillars of Islam form a foundation of life in Islam. The event is a deeply spiritual experience.
