Eid Al Adha 2024: UAE astronomer predicts likely dates

The UAE will mark its next public holiday with the upcoming Eid Al Adha festival.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is a major Islamic holiday celebrated worldwide.

The holiday involves communal prayer (ṣalāt) at daybreak on its first day, which falls on the 10th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. It is a time for Muslims to perform acts of charity, sacrifice animals, typically sheep, and gather with family and friends for celebration and gift-giving.

What are the tentative dates for Eid al Adha?

According to various astronomical calculations, Eid al-Adha is expected to occur on Sunday, June 16 or Monday, June 17.

However, the exact date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.

The Day of Arafat, which precedes Eid al-Adha, is anticipated to be observed on June 15.

Public holidays for Eid al-Adha are tentatively slated for Monday, June 17 to Wednesday, June 19, subject to confirmation based on the sighting of the Moon.

According to UAE astronomers, Arafat Day is likely to begin on Sunday, June 16 this year. This means that Eid al-Adha 2024 may begin on Monday, June 17 and run on till Wednesday, June 19, giving UAE residents who don’t work on Saturdays a five day break, with offices re-opening on Thursday, June 20.

The latest Eid al-Adha 2024 date prediction was shared by Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society. Jarwan, confirmed that observers predict that Thursday, June 20 will likely be the end of Tashriq, and the end of the Hajj season.

It marks the culmination of the Hajj (pilgrimage) rites at Mina, Saudi Arabia, near Mecca.

 

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Will Eid al-Adha holiday result in a long weekend?

For those with a Saturday and Sunday weekend, Eid al-Adha will likely provide a five-day break, with work resuming on Thursday, June 20.

UAE residents can anticipate a public holiday from Monday, June 17 to Wednesday, June 19.

Taking advantage of this extended break, individuals may opt to extend their holiday further by taking Thursday, June 20, and Friday, June 21, off, providing a total of nine consecutive days of holiday.

However, it’s important to note that the confirmation of holiday dates hinges on the sighting of the Moon.

Read: When is Arafat Day and Eid al Adha in Saudi Arabia?