Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE falls on Wednesday, 27 May, with Arafat Day on Tuesday, 26 May. The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed both dates on Sunday, 17 May 2026 after the Dhul Hijjah crescent was sighted. Federal employees get five paid days (25–29 May); private sector workers are entitled to four paid days (26–29 May) under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
When is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE starts on Wednesday, 27 May, preceded by Arafat Day on Tuesday, 26 May. The UAE Council for Fatwa announced both dates on Sunday evening, 17 May 2026, after the Dhul Hijjah crescent was sighted across the country.
The same dates were confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court, the Emirates Astronomical Society, and aligned authorities in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Monday, 18 May 2026 marks the first day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH — the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar.
The full Eid Al Adha 2026 timeline
| Islamic date | Gregorian date | Day | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dhul Hijjah 1447 | 18 May 2026 | Monday | First day of Hajj month |
| 8 Dhul Hijjah | 25 May 2026 | Monday | Yawm al-Tarwiyah · public sector holiday |
| 9 Dhul Hijjah | 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | Arafat Day · fasting recommended |
| 10 Dhul Hijjah | 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Eid Al Adha Day 1 · prayer · Qurbani |
| 11 Dhul Hijjah | 28 May 2026 | Thursday | Eid Day 2 · Ayyam al-Tashriq |
| 12 Dhul Hijjah | 29 May 2026 | Friday | Eid Day 3 · Ayyam al-Tashriq |
For the full moon-sighting science and verification process, see our detailed when is Eid Al Adha 2026 guide and the dedicated Eid Al Adha 2026 moon sighting breakdown.
How many days off does the UAE get for Eid Al Adha 2026?
UAE public sector gets five paid days off for Eid Al Adha 2026 (25–29 May) under the FAHR circular. Private sector gets four paid days (26–29 May) under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, with the MOHRE confirmation circular pending. Add one annual leave day on Monday 25 May and the chain extends to nine consecutive days off.
Sector-by-sector breakdown
| Sector | Paid days off | Date range | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal public sector | 5 days | 25–29 May | ✅ FAHR confirmed |
| Private sector | 4 days | 26–29 May | ⏳ MOHRE pending |
| Sharjah government | 4-day workweek | 22 May–31 May | ✅ 10-day window |
| Schools (MoE & KHDA) | 5 working days | 25–29 May | ✅ Confirmed |
| Sharjah private schools (SPEA) | 4 working days | 25–28 May | ✅ Confirmed |
| Banks (CBUAE) | 4 days | 26–29 May | ✅ Confirmed |
Detailed sector guidance lives in our companion pieces on private sector Eid holidays, all UAE Eid holidays, and the MOHRE Eid Al Adha 2026 update.
Plan your Eid Al Adha 2026 break
The interactive planner below counts down to Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE and calculates your effective break length based on sector, leave days and surrounding weekends.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE prayer timings across the UAE
Eid Al Adha prayer (Salat al-Eid) is offered as a congregational prayer about 15–20 minutes after sunrise on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) and counterpart authorities in each emirate publish final mosque-by-mosque timings 2–3 days before Eid. Expected timings, based on the 2025 schedule, are:
| Emirate | Expected Eid prayer time (27 May 2026) | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 5:50 AM | General Authority of Islamic Affairs |
| Dubai | 5:45 AM | IACAD |
| Sharjah | 5:44 AM | Sharjah Islamic Affairs (SIA) |
| Ajman | 5:44 AM | Awqaf Ajman |
| Umm Al Quwain | 5:43 AM | Awqaf UAQ |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 5:41 AM | RAK Islamic Affairs |
| Fujairah | 5:41 AM | Fujairah Islamic Affairs |
Women, families and children are welcomed at all designated Eid musallahs. Free parking is offered at most mosques on Eid morning and police manage traffic flow at major prayer grounds. Full mosque listings, open-air musallah maps and live updates are in our complete Eid Al Adha prayer timings guide.
How to perform Eid Al Adha prayer step by step
Salat al-Eid is two rakats with extra takbeers — seven in the first rakat, five in the second — followed by a khutbah (sermon). Wudu, modest dress and arriving early are sunnah.
Women are welcomed at the mosque or designated musallah and pray in the women’s section. Children are encouraged to attend. If you miss the congregation, the prayer cannot be made up individually.
Arafat Day 2026: fasting, duas and significance
Arafat Day falls on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 — the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah and the holiest day in the Islamic calendar. Pilgrims at Hajj stand at Mount Arafat in supplication from noon to sunset. Non-pilgrims worldwide are encouraged to fast, recite dua and seek forgiveness.
Fasting on Arafat Day expiates the sins of the previous year and the year to come, according to authentic hadith. For full duas in Arabic, English transliteration and fasting timings city-by-city, see our Arafat Day duas guide, the Arafat Day fasting timings page, the Arafat Day 2026 UAE explainer, and the Arafat Day vs Eid Al Adha breakdown.
Qurbani in the UAE 2026: prices, rules and where to book
Qurbani (also spelled Udhiya) is the Islamic ritual sacrifice performed after Eid prayer on 27 May 2026. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. The meat is shared one-third to the donor’s family, one-third to relatives and friends, one-third to those in need.
Animal rules and shares
| Animal | Minimum age | People per share | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep / goat | 1 year | 1 person | Most common in UAE |
| Cow / buffalo | 2 years | Up to 7 people | Shares must be equal |
| Camel | 5 years | Up to 7 people | Traditional in the Gulf |
Approved donation channels include IACAD-registered charities (Beit Al Khair, Dar Al Ber, Emirates Red Crescent). Commercial Qurbani is offered by Meat One, Careem Udhiya and approved slaughterhouses (Al Quoz, Al Qusais, Ras Al Khor in Dubai; Mina Zayed in Abu Dhabi). Expat residents can perform Qurbani locally or in their home country through approved charities. Online Qurbani is valid under all four major schools.
Eid Al Adha vs Eid Al Fitr: key differences
- 10 Dhul Hijjah · 27 May 2026
- 3 days of celebration
- Commemorates Prophet Ibrahim
- Qurbani (ritual sacrifice)
- Coincides with Hajj
- 5 public sector days off
- 1 Shawwal · 20 March 2026 (past)
- 3 days of celebration
- Marks the end of Ramadan
- Zakat Al-Fitr (charity)
- Sweet dishes traditional
- 3 paid days off
Eid Al Adha 2026 greetings, wishes and messages
“Eid Mubarak” (blessed Eid) is the universal greeting. “Eid Saeed” (happy Eid) is also common. Greet with a smile, a handshake (between same gender) or by placing right hand on heart.
For an extended library of wishes — formal, religious, kids, WhatsApp-ready images and Arabic calligraphy — see our complete Eid Al Adha 2026 greetings collection.
What’s open in Dubai during Eid Al Adha 2026
Almost everything stays open during Eid Al Adha 2026 in Dubai and across the UAE, often with extended Eid hours. Only government offices and some clinics close on the public holiday days.
For the live Eid status of every major mall, attraction and service in the UAE, our What’s open during Eid Al Adha 2026 guide is updated daily through the holiday week.
Free parking, Salik and public transport during Eid Al Adha 2026
Every emirate offers free public parking during Eid Al Adha holidays. Dubai’s RTA suspends paid parking on all public-holiday days. Salik tolls are also suspended during the official holiday period.
Salik: suspended 26–29 May
Darb toll: suspended public holidays
RTA confirms Dubai Metro, Tram and bus services run extended hours through the Eid weekend, with services until 1am on Eid nights. Full parking and toll details in our free parking Dubai Eid Al Adha guide and the Salik Eid suspension breakdown.
Best Eid Al Adha 2026 staycations, brunches and things to do
Dubai hotels release Eid-specific packages from mid-May. Expect family suites, brunch + room combos and beach-day add-ons at every budget level. Fireworks light up Dubai Mall, JBR, Bluewaters, Atlantis and Yas Island on Eid night.
For curated deals by budget and location, see our Eid Al Adha staycation deals, best Eid brunches in Dubai 2026, Eid decoration ideas, and the long weekend travel ideas around Arafat Day.
Eid travel from UAE: top destinations and prices
A nine-day window opens up short-haul and medium-haul travel. Indicative return economy fares from Dubai with Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia for the Eid 2026 dates:
| Destination | Flight time | Indicative return fare | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salalah, Oman | 2h 25m | AED 950+ | Khareef season, cool weather |
| Tbilisi, Georgia | 3h 40m | AED 1,400+ | Visa-free, mountains, food |
| Baku, Azerbaijan | 3h 15m | AED 1,500+ | Visa-on-arrival, Old City |
| Almaty, Kazakhstan | 4h 45m | AED 1,800+ | Visa-free, mountains, lakes |
| Phuket, Thailand | 6h 30m | AED 2,200+ | Beach, halal-friendly |
| Maldives | 4h 30m | AED 2,600+ | Luxury, all-inclusive, beaches |
Book by mid-May to lock fares before the holiday surcharge kicks in. Saudi Arabia is busiest during Eid Al Adha (Hajj overflow); Salalah is the local secret — cool monsoon climate during peak UAE summer.
Eid Al Adha for non-Muslims and expats in the UAE
The UAE is home to over 200 nationalities, and Eid Al Adha is celebrated openly across every community. Non-Muslim residents enjoy the same public holiday entitlements, are welcomed at community events, and can absolutely take part — there is no need to do or avoid anything beyond basic respect.
- Greet Muslim friends with “Eid Mubarak”
- Accept invitations to Eid feasts and gifts
- Wear modest clothing at religious venues
- Enjoy community events and fireworks
- Send greetings to clients and colleagues
- Loud public eating during Eid prayer hour
- Photographing worshippers without permission
- Wearing revealing clothing near mosques
- Booking work meetings on official days off
- Sending alcohol or pork-based gifts
Our complete non-Muslim guide to Eid celebrations in the UAE covers school activities, workplace etiquette, gift ideas and family event recommendations.
Eid Al Adha 2026 UAE: frequently asked questions
Sources: UAE Council for Fatwa confirmation 17 May 2026 (WAM); FAHR Eid Al Adha 2026 circular for federal employees; Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on official UAE public holidays; Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 (UAE Labour Law); Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology; Emirates Astronomical Society; Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD); General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf); Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The National. Last reviewed: 18 May 2026. Page updates continue through the MOHRE private sector circular and the holiday week.
Leave a Reply