When is Arafat Day in the UAE and will it be a public holiday?

Dubai: UAE residents can look forward to a four-day weekend in June as Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha will occur back-to-back. With Arafat Day’s public holiday followed by the three-day Eid break, this extended weekend will provide a perfect chance for rest, travel, and celebration.

In the UAE, Arafat Day is officially recognized as a one-day public holiday, giving residents time to observe the occasion through prayer, reflection, and community gatherings. It also marks the start of the extended Eid Al Adha break for many in the country.

The Day of Arafat, also known as Arafah Day, has been officially announced to fall on Thursday, June 5, 2025, as confirmed by UAE authorities following the moon sighting.

The Day of Arafat is an important Islamic observance that takes place on the ninth of Dhu Al Hijjah, the day before Eid Al Adha. It marks the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, where Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat and the Plain of Arafat. It is from this site that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered one of his final sermons during the last year of his life.

For Muslims who are not participating in Hajj, Arafat Day is a significant day of fasting and spiritual reflection. Although fasting on this day is not obligatory, it is highly recommended for those not performing the pilgrimage.

Eid Al Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar, will be celebrated in the UAE on Friday, June 6, 2025.

The festival commemorates the spirit of sacrifice and coincides with the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Eid Al Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”, commemorates the Qur’anic account of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Before the sacrifice could take place, God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. This act of devotion and faith is remembered and honoured by Muslims around the world.

The festival coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and is observed with prayers, charitable giving, family gatherings, and the ritual sacrifice of livestock, such as sheep or goats. The meat is then shared among family, friends, and those in need.

Eid Al Adha is the second of the two major Islamic holidays, the first being Eid Al Fitr, which follows the month of Ramadan.