When is Eid Al Adha 2026? Confirmed Date, UAE Holiday Window & Hajj
Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE falls on Wednesday, 27 May — confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa on 17 May 2026 after the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon was sighted. The 3-day Eid runs 27–29 May with Arafat Day on 26 May. Full guide to dates, holiday window, and how it compares globally.
When is Eid Al Adha 2026? Eid Al Adha 2026 falls on Wednesday, 27 May in the UAE — the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH. This was officially confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026, after the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah was sighted from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi.
But there is more to this than a single date. The same moon sighting set Arafat Day, sealed the four-day public holiday window, and aligned the UAE with most of the Gulf states. This guide covers all of it — the confirmed dates, how the call was made, the holiday block, and how the UAE compares with other countries.
✔ OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED · UAE COUNCIL FOR FATWA · 17 MAY 2026
EID AL ADHA 2026 · UAE DATES
Crescent of Dhul Hijjah sighted on 17 May. 1 Dhul Hijjah began Monday, 18 May 2026.
When is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE
Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE falls on Wednesday, 27 May, with the three-day Eid running Wednesday 27 May through Friday 29 May. Arafat Day — a public holiday in its own right — falls the day before on Tuesday, 26 May. Together they form a four-day paid public holiday block under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. Combined with the Saturday–Sunday weekend that follows, residents get six consecutive days off.
⏱ COUNTDOWN TO CONFIRMED EID AL ADHA 2026
until sunrise on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 05:45 AM UAE time · date officially confirmed by UAE Council for Fatwa on 17 May
How the Eid Al Adha 2026 Date Was Confirmed
The Eid Al Adha 2026 date was confirmed through the standard four-step UAE moon sighting process. The crescent of Dhul Hijjah was successfully sighted on Sunday, 17 May 2026, making 1 Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH fall on Monday 18 May — and therefore 10 Dhul Hijjah (Eid Day 1) on Wednesday 27 May.
The ruling came down on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026 — distributed nationally via the Emirates News Agency (WAM), state television, and the Dubai Government Media Office by around 9 PM UAE time. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain issued matching rulings the same evening, confirming GCC alignment.
The UAE Eid Al Adha 2026 Holiday Window
The full UAE Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday window is confirmed for Tuesday 26 May to Friday 29 May 2026 — four paid public holidays covering Arafat Day plus the three days of Eid. With the weekend that follows, the total break is six consecutive days. For government sector employees, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) has granted Monday 25 May as an additional day off, extending the public sector break to nine days.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 25 May | Monday | Pre-Eid weekday | Public sector off (FAHR) · Private sector pending MOHRE |
| Tue, 26 May | Tuesday | Arafat Day | Public Holiday |
| Wed, 27 May | Wednesday | Eid Al Adha — Day 1 | Public Holiday |
| Thu, 28 May | Thursday | Eid Al Adha — Day 2 | Public Holiday |
| Fri, 29 May | Friday | Eid Al Adha — Day 3 | Public Holiday |
| Sat–Sun, 30–31 May | Weekend | Weekend | Day Off |
For the full sector-by-sector breakdown including FAHR vs MOHRE distinctions, see UAE School & Office Closure Rules for Eid Holidays 2026.
How the Eid Al Adha Date Is Determined Each Year
Eid Al Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. Dhul Hijjah begins only when its crescent moon is physically sighted — not by calendar calculation alone. Here is exactly how the system works.
The Islamic Calendar Drifts ~11 Days Earlier Each Year
Islam uses the Hijri calendar — a lunar calendar of 12 months. Unlike the Gregorian calendar (which adds leap days to stay in sync with the solar year), the Hijri calendar makes no such adjustment. A Hijri year has approximately 354 days — about 11 days shorter than a Gregorian year.
The result: every Islamic date drifts roughly 10–11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar each year. That is why Eid Al Adha was on 6 June 2025 and is on 27 May 2026. It is the same festival — just arriving earlier each year.
EID AL ADHA · DATE DRIFT · 2023–2030
2026 confirmed · future dates calculated and subject to moon sighting
How an Islamic Month Begins
In the Hijri calendar, each new month begins only when the crescent moon is physically sighted after a new moon. Not when a calculation predicts it. Not automatically when the new moon occurs. Only when a human observer actually sees the thin sliver of crescent in the western sky after sunset.
This is not a technicality. It is a deliberate part of Islamic tradition, rooted in prophetic teaching, that has governed Islamic timekeeping for over 1,400 years.
Who Makes the Official Call in the UAE
The UAE Council for Fatwa — the country's highest Islamic jurisprudence authority — is responsible for the ruling. It convenes at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and draws on sighting reports from three national observation stations running simultaneously: Khatm Astronomical Observatory (International Astronomy Centre), Shawaf Dubai (IACAD), and the Sharjah platform (Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology).
For 2026, all three stations confirmed the crescent on 17 May. The council issued its ruling that evening — announcement distributed via WAM news agency, state television, and the Dubai Government Media Office. The whole country knew the official Eid date by around 9–10 PM that evening.
FULL MOON SIGHTING STORY
The crescent was photographed during daylight at 9:20 AM from Khatm Observatory in Abu Dhabi — 7.8° from the sun, ~9 hours old. A remarkably early confirmation. Naked-eye sighting at sunset sealed it. Read the full moon sighting story →
Is the Eid Al Adha 2026 Date Different in Each UAE Emirate?
No. The Eid Al Adha 2026 date is the same across all seven UAE emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Wednesday, 27 May is Eid Day 1 nationwide.
The reason: the UAE has a single national authority for moon sighting rulings — the UAE Council for Fatwa. The ruling issued on the evening of 17 May applies to the entire country simultaneously. There is no separate sighting or separate announcement per emirate.
The observation data comes from multiple stations across the UAE — in Dubai, Abu Dhabi (Khatm) and Sharjah — but those are inputs to one national decision, not seven separate ones. The Council for Fatwa synthesises all reports and issues a single unified ruling.
EID DAY 1: 27 MAY · SAME DATE · ALL 7 EMIRATES
All seven emirates follow the UAE Council for Fatwa ruling issued on 17 May 2026.
Is the Eid Al Adha 2026 Date the Same Across Countries?
Mostly yes for the GCC, but not always globally. For 2026, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain all confirmed Eid Al Adha on Wednesday, 27 May after their respective moon sightings on 17 May. South Asian countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh typically follow a day later based on their local sighting — making their Eid 28 May.
The reason for the divergence: each country conducts its own moon sighting under its own methodology. Some rely on local naked-eye observation. Some follow Saudi Arabia’s ruling automatically. Some use astronomical calculation alone, without requiring a physical sighting. The crescent becomes visible at different times depending on longitude and atmospheric conditions, so two countries on the same night can legitimately reach different conclusions.
EID AL ADHA 2026 DATES BY COUNTRY / REGION
Dates marked Confirmed are official rulings. Others are based on the standard date convention for each country.
The most consistent difference is between the Gulf states (which tend to sight the crescent a day earlier, as it becomes visible in their western skies first) and South Asian countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh (which typically follow a day later based on their local observation). Communities in the West vary depending on which authority their local mosque follows.
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — is one of the two most sacred days in Islam, alongside Eid Al Fitr. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God — an act of submission that ended with divine mercy when God replaced the sacrifice with a ram. Muslims mark this every year through prayer, ritual sacrifice (Qurbani), and giving to those in need.
The festival also marks the conclusion of Hajj — the annual pilgrimage to Makkah that draws over 2 million Muslims from every corner of the world. Eid Al Adha is both a celebration and an act of remembrance, observed by approximately 1.9 billion Muslims globally.
Frequently Asked Questions: When is Eid Al Adha 2026
When is Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha 2026 in the UAE falls on Wednesday, 27 May. This was officially confirmed by the UAE Council for Fatwa on Sunday evening, 17 May 2026, after the Dhul Hijjah crescent was sighted from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi. The three days of Eid run Wed 27 May through Fri 29 May, preceded by Arafat Day on Tuesday 26 May. The four-day public holiday block (26–29 May) is confirmed under UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
How many days does Eid Al Adha 2026 last in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha runs for three days: Wednesday 27 May (Day 1), Thursday 28 May (Day 2), and Friday 29 May (Day 3). With Arafat Day on Tuesday 26 May also a public holiday, the official paid public holiday block is four days. Combined with the Saturday–Sunday weekend that follows, residents get six consecutive days off. Public sector employees get nine days, as FAHR has granted Monday 25 May as an additional day off for government workers.
How was the Eid Al Adha 2026 date confirmed?
The UAE Council for Fatwa confirmed Eid Al Adha 2026 on the evening of Sunday, 17 May 2026, after the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon was sighted. Khatm Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi photographed the crescent at 9:20 AM that morning — 7.8 degrees from the sun, approximately 9 hours old. Naked-eye sighting at sunset confirmed the observation. The Council then issued its binding ruling: 1 Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH began Monday 18 May, making Arafat Day fall on 26 May and Eid Day 1 on 27 May. Distributed via WAM news agency.
Is the Eid Al Adha 2026 date the same across all UAE emirates?
Yes. The UAE Council for Fatwa issues one national ruling that applies to all seven emirates simultaneously — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. There is no separate sighting or announcement per emirate. Eid Day 1 is Wednesday 27 May 2026 nationwide. Observation data is collected from multiple stations across the UAE but feeds into a single unified ruling.
Is the Eid Al Adha 2026 date the same in all countries?
Mostly aligned across the GCC, but not always globally. For 2026, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain all confirmed Eid Al Adha on Wednesday, 27 May. South Asian countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh typically follow a day later (around 28 May) based on their own local sighting. Communities in the West vary depending on which authority their local mosque follows — some align with Saudi Arabia, some calculate locally.
Why is Eid Al Adha 2026 in late May and not June?
The Islamic Hijri calendar is purely lunar and runs about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar each year. As a result, Eid Al Adha drifts roughly 10 to 11 days earlier on the Gregorian calendar every year. Eid Al Adha 2025 fell on 6 June; Eid Al Adha 2026 falls on 27 May; Eid Al Adha 2027 is projected to fall around 17 May. Over a roughly 33-year cycle, Eid Al Adha drifts through the entire Gregorian calendar.
What is the UAE Council for Fatwa?
The UAE Council for Fatwa is the country’s highest Islamic jurisprudence authority, operating under the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf). It is responsible for issuing official rulings on moon sightings and Islamic religious occasions. The Council convenes at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and draws on sighting reports from three observation stations across the UAE before issuing its binding ruling, which is then distributed via WAM news agency.
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — is one of the two most important festivals in Islam, alongside Eid Al Fitr. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, with God ultimately replacing the sacrifice with a ram. The festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Observed by approximately 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide through prayer, Qurbani (ritual animal sacrifice), and giving to those in need.
📚 Continue with the full Eid Al Adha 2026 guides
Sources: UAE Council for Fatwa; Khatm Astronomical Observatory (International Astronomy Centre); Emirates Astronomical Society; Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology; WAM (Emirates News Agency). Last updated: 18 May 2026.
