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Save these dates on your calendar - here are the official dates for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha 2024 in the UAE!
26 April 2024
| Last updated on 12 June 2024
Time to start planning your next long break!
Following Eid Al Fitr in April, which was also the longest public holiday in the UAE this year, residents can look forward to another extended weekend in June 2024.
The upcoming public holiday will be a combination of both Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha, with the former confirmed to take place Saturday, June 15 and followed by the first day of Eid on Sunday June 16.
SEE ALSO: List of UAE Public Holidays in 2024 - Confirmed and Expected Dates
The UAE government has announced that Eid Al Adha 2024 will be marked with a public holiday for both the public and private sector from Monday June 17 to Tuesday June 18. For residents whose weekends are Saturdays and Sundays, that means a four-day weekend, with work resuming on Wednesday June 19.
Islamic holidays are dependent on the moon sighting, with the actual dates confirmed by authorities closer to the occasion.
What is Arafat Day?
Arafat Day, or Day of Arafah, is a day of great importance in Islam. It falls on the 9th day of Dhu Al Hijja, and its significance is tied to Mount Arafat - the site where Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) delivered his Farewell Sermon.
Arafat Day also marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage, believed by Muslims to be the day when "a verse of the Quran revealed that Islam was perfected, and when Allah's blessings were completed."
Hajj is a mandatory religious pilgrimage for Muslims, and is expected to be carried out at least once in their lifetime to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha is one of the two Eid festivals in Islam and it is known as the 'festival of sacrifice'. Eid Al Adha honours Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, following instructions by God through a dream. When he informed his son of the dream, his son was willing, however God intervened and sent a sheep to the son's place.
The festival also marks the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. In the UAE, Eid Al Adha is typically marked with public holidays for the public and private sectors.
Why are some UAE public holidays dependent on the moon?
The confirmation dates of some public holidays in the UAE and other significant Muslim occasions, such as Eid and Ramadan, depend on the sighting of the moon.
This is because the Islamic calendar and Islamic holidays follows the lunar cycle, compared to the Gregorian calendar. The actual dates are based on the phases of the moon, so we won't know the exact dates until we hear confirmation from astronomers.
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