Eid Al Adha 2023 holidays announced for private sector

UAE employees will be off from June 27, with work resuming on July 3

Worshippers at Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai greet each other after Eid Al Adha prayers in 2018. Pawan Singh / The National

Related: When is Eid Al Adha 2023?

Private sector workers will enjoy a six-day break for Eid Al Adha.

Staff will be off from Tuesday, June 27, until Friday, June 30, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced on Monday.

Work will resume on Monday, July 3.

The holiday dates for the public sector were announced earlier this month.

The annual Hajj pilgrimage will begin on June 26 with Eid Al Adha falling two days later, Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday evening.

The announcement came after the crescent moon, which heralds the start of Dhul Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar, was sighted.

It meant Dhul Hijjah began on Monday, allowing for the start dates of Hajj – which falls on the eighth day of the month – and Eid Al Adha, which commences on its 10th day, to be determined.

Hajj will begin on Monday, June 26, with Arafat Day on Tuesday, with Eid Al Adha celebrations beginning on Wednesday, June 28.

Hajj and Eid Al Adha explained

Millions of Muslims travel to Makkah to perform Hajj each year, with many also heading farther 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 for Muslims.

The annual pilgrimage takes place during Dhu Al Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for about four to six days.

More than two million Muslims are expected to take part this year, in a return to pre-pandemic numbers.

Eid Al Adha means “festival of the sacrifice”. It coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

The sacrifice the holiday commemorates is explained in the Quran, which tells of how the Prophet Ibrahim was asked by God in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.

Eid Al Adha 2022 in UAE - in pictures

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  Emirati cleric Aref Sheikh leads Eid Al Adha prayers at Nad Al Hammar Musalla in Dubai. EPA

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  People celebrate and greet each other after attending prayers. EPA

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  The imam speaks at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People greet each other after prayers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People pray. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People greet each other after prayers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People pray. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People arrive at Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque for morning prayers. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Worshippers arrive on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers arrive on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers arrive on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers arrive on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers perform prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Warm greetings on the first morning of Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  A family selfie after prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers perform prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers after morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers embrace after morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers perform prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Adha at Bani Hashim Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers after morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Warm greetings on the first morning of Eid Al Adha in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

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  Worshippers embrace after morning prayers in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Remaining holidays for 2023

June 27: Arafat Day

June 28 to 30: Eid Al Adha

July 21: Islamic New Year

September 29: The Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

December 2 and 3: UAE National Day