When Is Arafat Day 2026? UAE Confirmed Date & Moon Sighting
Arafat Day 2026 in the UAE is officially confirmed for Tuesday, 26 May 2026 after the Dhul Hijjah crescent was sighted on 17 May. Full story of the moon sighting, who confirmed it, and why the date is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.
Every year, the same question lands in search bars across the UAE the moment Ramadan ends: when is Arafat Day this year? For 2026, the answer is now official: Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed it on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026, after the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon was sighted.
This guide explains precisely how the date for Arafat Day 2026 was arrived at, who confirmed it, what the moon sighting looked like, and why Arafat Day — or the Day of Arafah — always falls on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the most sacred day in the Islamic calendar and the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage.
✔ Officially Confirmed
Arafat Day 2026 in UAE
Tuesday 26 May 2026
9th Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH
Confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa · 17 May 2026
When Is Arafat Day 2026 in the UAE? The Confirmed Answer
Arafat Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. This is the 9th of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH on the Islamic Hijri calendar — the day before Eid Al Adha begins. The UAE Council for Fatwa announced the date on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026, distributed nationally via WAM (Emirates News Agency).
Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain confirmed the same date in parallel rulings — meaning Hajj pilgrims on Mount Arafat and Muslims observing Arafat Day at home across the GCC will share the day together.
Why Arafat Day Does Not Have a Fixed Calendar Date
Arafat Day falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah — the final month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. The Hijri calendar is purely lunar, meaning each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. Because a lunar year is roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, Islamic dates shift earlier every year against the Western calendar.
In 2025, Arafat Day fell on 5 June. In 2026, it lands on 26 May. By 2030, it moves into April. Think of it as a slow, clockwise drift across the seasons — over 33 years, Arafat Day completes a full circuit of the Gregorian calendar.
📅 Arafat Day — Past & Coming Years
| Year | Gregorian Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 June 2024 | Saturday |
| 2025 | 5 June 2025 | Thursday |
| 2026 | 26 May 2026 (confirmed) | Tuesday |
| 2027 | ~15 May 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | ~4 May 2028 | Thursday |
2027 and 2028 are astronomical estimates. 2026 is confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa.
How the 26 May 2026 Date Was Confirmed
Astronomers across the UAE had projected 26 May 2026 weeks in advance. The actual confirmation came in three steps over 24 hours:
The Astronomers Who Predicted It Right
Two UAE scientific bodies had publicly projected the 26 May 2026 date and they were validated by the sighting:
- Emirates Astronomical Society (chaired by Ibrahim Al Jarwan) — projected lunar conjunction at 12:01 AM on 17 May with the crescent at ~10 degrees above the horizon at sunset
- Sharjah Space and Astronomy Hub (SSAH) (directed by Prof. Hamid Al Naimiy) — projected conjunction at 12:17 AM on 17 May with the crescent visible for ~57 minutes after sunset
- Both placed Monday, 18 May as the 1st of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH
- Both therefore projected Arafat Day on Tuesday, 26 May — matching the Council’s ruling exactly
🔭 What is the Sharjah Space and Astronomy Hub? The SSAH is an astronomical research and education centre at the University of Sharjah, directed by Professor Hamid Al Naimiy. It produces scientific lunar calculations that are formally shared with the UAE Fatwa Council to support official moon-sighting decisions. Its findings are advisory — the final call rests with the Council for Fatwa.
What the Confirmation Means for the 2026 Eid Break
With the date confirmed, the UAE public holiday block under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 is locked in. The four mandatory paid days off are now fixed, and combined with the Saturday–Sunday weekend, residents get a continuous six-day break from Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 31 May 2026.
📅 Confirmed Holiday Block
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 26 May | Arafat Day | Public Holiday |
| Wed–Fri 27–29 May | Eid Al Adha (3 days) | Public Holiday |
| Sat–Sun 30–31 May | Weekend | Day Off |
Adding Monday, 25 May as annual leave extends the break to nine consecutive days from Saturday 23 May. For full holiday rules and employer obligations, see Is Arafat Day 2026 a Public Holiday in UAE?
Where to Read the Confirmation at Source
The UAE government publishes confirmed holiday rulings through these channels:
- WAM — Emirates News Agency (wam.ae) — primary press release source
- UAE Government Portal (u.ae) — federal calendar update
- MOHRE (mohre.gov.ae) — employer circular for private sector
- Awqaf — General Authority of Islamic Affairs (awqaf.gov.ae) — Council for Fatwa publications
Full announcement story: Arafat Day UAE 2026 Official Announcement: Date Announced.
📌 Quick Reference: Arafat Day 2026 UAE
Frequently Asked Questions
Arafat Day 2026 is confirmed for Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The UAE Council for Fatwa announced this on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026, after the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon was sighted.
The UAE Council for Fatwa — the federal Islamic authority under the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf) — confirmed the date after reviewing crescent moon sighting reports from across the country. The announcement was distributed via WAM (Emirates News Agency).
The crescent was photographed during daylight at 9:20 AM UAE time on 17 May 2026 from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi. The moon was 7.8 degrees from the sun and approximately 9 hours old. Naked-eye sighting at sunset confirmed the observation.
Arafat Day always falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic lunar calendar. Because the lunar year is roughly 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, Islamic dates shift approximately 11 days earlier each year against the Western calendar.
Yes. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain all confirmed Arafat Day on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, and Eid Al Adha on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. The GCC is fully aligned.
