By Staff Reporter
The UAE government has officially announced the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday for public sector employees, granting a five-day break from Monday, May 25, to Friday, May 29, 2026. Work is set to resume on Monday, June 1.
With the inclusion of the regular Saturday and Sunday weekend, many government employees could enjoy an extended nine-day holiday.
The announcement was made by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, while officials noted that the final dates remain subject to the official moon sighting.
Arafah Day Expected on May 26
Based on current astronomical calculations, Arafah Day — regarded as the most spiritually significant day of the Hajj pilgrimage — is expected to fall on Tuesday, May 26.
Arafah Day is observed on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar and is recognised as a public holiday across the UAE. It is followed by the Eid Al Adha celebrations, one of the most important Islamic festivals.
Eid Al Adha and Hajj Pilgrimage
Eid Al Adha coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage, during which millions of Muslims travel to Makkah to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.
Moon Sighting and Date Calculations
Astronomical projections indicate that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Dhul Hijjah may be observed on Sunday, May 17.
If the moon is sighted that evening, Dhul Hijjah will begin on Monday, May 18. If not, the current month of Dhul Qadah will complete 30 days, pushing the start of Dhul Hijjah to Tuesday, May 19.
This would subsequently affect the dates of Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha.
Earlier predictions from the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology suggested that Wednesday, May 27, is likely to be the first day of Eid Al Adha in the UAE.
