When will Eid Al Adha begin in Dubai? Expected date announced
The latest update gives us a strong indication of when the next long weekend will get underway.
According to the UAE public holiday law, Eid Al Adha is an official four-day break when combined with Arafat Day.
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The holiday is one of several in the UAE with no set date, as it relies on the Islamic Hijri calendar to be determined.
In the Islamic Hijri calendar, months can only begin and end when the crescent moon has been sighted.
Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, has revealed when we can expect this year's holiday to begin.
The start date of Eid Al Adha depends on when the crescent for the Islamic month of Dhu Al Hijjah is spotted.
The Emirates Astronomy Society's latest prediction indicates that the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent should be spotted on Tuesday May 27, which would make Wednesday May 28 the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Unlike the Eid Al Fitr break, which comes at the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal, Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are held on Dhu Al Hijjah 9, 10, 11 and 12.
This would mean that the public holiday will begin on Thursday June 5 with Arafat Day and that the first day of Eid Al Adha will be on Friday June 6. The holiday would then continue onto Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8.
Current predictions point towards a four-day weekend.
However, this is just a prediction at this stage and could change depending on a number of factors – including whether Shawwal and Dhu Al Qa'dah are 29-day or 30-day months in the lead up to Dhu Al Hijjah.
Official confirmation of the start of Eid Al Adha is not expected until Tuesday May 27.
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