Sheep prices for Eid Al Adha vary widely across Arab world. Find out how much they cost from Egypt to the UAE

Dubai: As Muslims across the Arab world mark Eid Al Adha, many families are facing a difficult question: can they still afford to sacrifice a sheep this year?

While the spiritual significance of the ritual remains unchanged, the cost of performing it has risen dramatically in several countries leaving many either sharing animals, scaling back, or foregoing the tradition altogether.

Data from across the region paints a sharp contrast. In Sudan and Yemen, a sacrificial sheep costs around $200–220, among the most affordable in the Arab world. But in places like Palestine and Algeria, the average price can soar above $800, a sum out of reach for many families already strained by economic hardship.

Sudan, home to over 40 million sheep, the highest number in the Arab world, offers some of the lowest sacrificial animal prices, with an average cost of $220. Despite ongoing conflict and inflation, the abundance of livestock and strong pastoral traditions help keep prices relatively stable.

At the other end of the spectrum, Palestinians in the West Bank are grappling with sheep prices averaging $850, up 20–25 per cent from last year. War-related economic collapse, high unemployment, and shrinking livestock supply have made sacrifice a luxury. “I haven’t tasted meat in months,” said Fuadi Ali, a former construction worker who lost his job after the war on Gaza began.

In Libya, where security concerns and foreign exchange pressures persist, sheep prices range from $530 to $640, driven by a shrinking livestock population and soaring feed costs. In Algeria, despite a government effort to import a million sheep to ease the market, average prices still hover near $755. Local breeds often sell for more, with some reaching over $1,200.

In countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, the average price of a sheep ranges from $460 to nearly $490. These nations rely heavily on imports, especially during Hajj, where demand surges. In Qatar, government subsidies help keep prices more stable, averaging around $356.

In Egypt, a sheep costs roughly $302, with steady prices compared to previous years thanks to improved fodder availability and a more stable exchange rate. Jordan, on the other hand, has seen a 15–25 per cent price hike from last year, with averages climbing to $352, while Iraq follows close behind at $381, as disease outbreaks and poor grazing conditions affect supply.

In Syria, where the average sheep costs $235, inflation and a weak local currency have paradoxically made sacrificial animals more affordable in dollar terms. Mauritania, despite being a major livestock exporter, also maintains moderate prices, with sheep averaging $278 though internal droughts and export pressures are driving prices higher.

In nearly every country, economic pressures from inflation and currency devaluation to climate-driven droughts and political instability are shaping how Muslims observe this year’s Eid Al Adha.

In response, many are finding creative solutions. Some split the cost of a single animal among relatives or friends, while others donate symbolic amounts to charitable slaughter funds. In wealthier nations, services like prepaid slaughter and meat distribution have grown in popularity, offering convenience but also reducing direct engagement with the ritual.

Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE