Eid Al Adha 2025 holiday dates: Long weekend announced in these countries

Dubai: Many countries across the Gulf, Asia, and beyond have confirmed public holiday dates for Eid Al Adha 2025, based on astronomical predictions. The festival will be celebrated on either Friday, June 6, or Saturday, June 7, depending on local moon sightings and announcements by religious authorities.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Australia, and Indonesia will observe Eid Al Adha on June 6, with the Day of Arafat on June 5.

Pakistan, Morocco, Mauritania, Brunei, Malaysia, India, and Bangladesh will celebrate Eid on June 7, as the crescent moon was not sighted on Tuesday evening. Bangladesh’s official confirmation is awaited, though a 10-day public holiday from June 5 to 14 has already been announced.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has confirmed that Eid Al Adha holidays for federal government employees will begin on Thursday, June 5, and continue through Sunday, June 8. Government offices will remain closed during this period, with work resuming on Monday, June 9.

Similarly, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a four-day paid holiday for private sector employees across the UAE. The break—covering Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha—will also run from June 5 to June 8, with regular working hours resuming on June 9.

Private and non-profit sector workers in Saudi Arabia will get a four-day Eid Al Adha break starting Thursday, June 5 (Arafat Day). The Ministry of Human Resources has asked employers to follow labour regulations. The Supreme Court confirmed Eid Al Adha will begin on June 6.

6-day break for Saudi Exchange: Meanwhile, the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) will observe a six-day holiday from June 5 to June 10, with trading resuming on Wednesday, June 11.

In preparation for Eid Al Adha, the Kuwaiti government has declared a five-day public holiday for all state institutions and public sector employees, running from Thursday, June 5 to Monday, June 9. Regular work will resume on Tuesday, June 10.

Qatar will observe a five-day public holiday starting Thursday, June 5 (Arafat Day), through Monday, June 9.

The announcement was approved by Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and published in Qatar’s Official Gazette. Ministries and public institutions will remain closed during this period.

As per Qatar’s flexible holiday decree, if a working day falls between two official holidays, it will also be considered a holiday.

Eid Al Adha will begin on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Oman, following the official sighting of the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent moon, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. The Main Committee for moon sighting confirmed that Dhul Hijjah 1 falls on May 28, making the Day of Arafah on Thursday, June 5, and Eid on Friday, June 6.

In accordance with Royal Decree No. 88/2022, public holidays will be observed from Dhul Hijjah 9 to 12. Since Eid falls on a Friday, an additional compensatory day has been granted, resulting in a five-day break from Thursday, June 5, to Monday, June 9.

Bangladesh has declared a 10-day public holiday for Eid Al Adha, likely starting June 5 and ending June 14, with Eid expected on June 7 pending moon sighting. The Ministry of Public Administration confirmed this in a gazette notification.

June 11 and 12 are also holidays by executive order, while government offices will open on two Saturdays, May 17 and 24, to compensate. All government and private offices will close during the holiday, except essential services like utilities, healthcare, and port operations. The Bangladesh Bank and Supreme Court will issue instructions on banking and court activities during this period.

Astronomers in Pakistan predict that Eid Al Adha will be celebrated on Saturday, June 7, as the Dhu Al Hijjah moon is unlikely to be sighted on May 27.

Dr Faheem Hashmi, a prominent astronomer, stated that the moon will be just 11 hours old on May 27, making it impossible to sight. The crescent is likely to be visible on May 28, making May 29 the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah.

Under Article 29 of the UAE Labour Law, employers are not obligated to provide compensatory days off if a public holiday falls on a weekend. However, if employees are required to work on these public holidays, they must be compensated either with:

The UAE Cabinet’s Resolution No. 27 of 2024 clearly states that public holidays falling on weekends will not be shifted to weekdays. This rule ensures the public holiday calendar remains fixed.

Eid Al Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”, commemorates the Quranic 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.

According to current astronomical forecasts, Arafat Day in the UAE is expected to fall on Thursday, June 5, 2025, with the official date to be confirmed after the moon sighting.

Yes. Arafat Day is observed as a public holiday in the UAE. It falls on the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah and is confirmed by the UAE’s moon-sighting committee.