And this Eid Al Adha could be the longest public holiday in 2026 in the UAE

If you’re already planning your next long break, here’s a look at when Eid Al Adha is expected to fall in the UAE in 2026.

According to Gulf News, astronomer Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), has stated that Eid Al Adha is likely to begin on Wednesday, May 27, based on astronomical calculations. Eid Al Adha is usually three days long, so in this case it would be Wednesday, May 27, until Friday, May 29. Leading up to the holiday, the Day of Arafah or Arafat Day — the most important day of the Hajj pilgrimage – is expected to fall on Tuesday, May 26.

Arafat Day is also a public holiday in the UAE, so for those with a typical Saturday-Sunday weekend, that would mean six days off. Those savvy with their annual leave dates could also take one day of leave on Monday, May 25, and enjoy a nine-day break, with a weekend either side.

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The prediction also places the start of Dhu Al Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, on Monday, May 18.

The exact dates of Eid Al Adha 2026 are still dependent on the sighting of the moon.

What is Eid Al Adha?

According to tradition, Eid Al Adha is held to honour Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, after being instructed to do so by God. Prophet Ibrahim told his son of the dream, and the son then told his father to follow the order. But God intervened, sending a sheep to take his son’s place.

The occasion of Eid Al Adha is usually marked with a few days off for both the public and private sectors, however, as with any Islamic holidays, decisions are based on the phases of the moon, so we won’t know the exact dates until the moon has been officially sited.