Eid al-Adha 2023: How Many Days Will The Public and Private Sectors Have Off in Total?
Bazaar Arabia shares everything we know about the upcoming holiday for UAE residents, including how to swing a nine-day holiday
Wondering how many days off the UAE public and private sector will have off For Eid al-Adha this year? Bazaar Arabia shares everything we know about the upcoming holiday (including how you can swing a holiday of up to nine days away from work by strategically using annual leave.)
It’s that time of year again between the two Eid holidays, when we all start searching for our next holiday destination, finalising our adventures abroad or staycation plans.
With the upcoming Eid al-Adha long weekend, members of both the public and private sector have started wondering about the amount of time we’ll have off next month.
While we are still quite far out from the moon sighting, Bazaar Arabia shares everything we know about the upcoming Eid al-Adha long weekend…
What is Eid al-Adha? And How is it Different From Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the two most important Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Muslims around the world celebrate this event by sacrificing an animal — usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel — and distributing the meat to the poor, family, and friends. The act is a symbolic representation of Muslims’ devotion and submission to Allah’s commands.
Eid al-Adha is different from Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. While both holidays involve special prayers, family gatherings, and the exchange of gifts, they have distinct cultural and religious significance. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast, while Eid al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia (one of the five pillars of Islam).
During Eid al-Fitr, Muslims also celebrate the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, while Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s act of obedience and submission to Allah’s will.
The celebration of Eid al-Adha also involves the performance of a special prayer called the Eid al-Adha prayer, which is offered in congregation in mosques or open-air locations; it’s then followed by a sermon or khutbah. After the prayer, families gather to celebrate and enjoy a feast of meat and traditional dishes.
How Many Days Off For Eid al-Adha?
Both the public and private sector in the UAE are expected to have an extra long weekend of up to, potentially, six days in total. But, of course, this all depends on the moon sighting.
Multiple sources are reporting that Arafat Day – which marks the beginning of the Islamic holiday — is expected to take place at the end of next month, on Tuesday June 27th, meaning the public and private sectors can anticipate to have up to four days off, including Wednesday, June 28th; Thursday, June 29th and Friday, June 30th.
Arafat Day is an important observance in the Islamic calendar that falls on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is the day before the major Islamic festival, Eid al-Adha.
This, ultimately, means UAE residents could have up to six days off for an extra-long long weekend or, if they’re smart with their annual leave, nine in total if they take Monday, June 26th off from work.
When will the moon sighting for Eid al-Adha be announced?
The sighting of the moon will determine the official Eid al-Adha holiday dates. Both the public and private sectors won’t know for sure what the dates until it’s spotted.
Check back soon for more details.
Lead images courtesy of Unsplash.