UAE announces Eid Al Adha holidays for 2023: Are you ready for longest weekend of the year?

The UAE has announced the official Eid Al Adha holidays for federal ministries and entities. Residents will get four days off to mark the Islamic festival. The break is likely to extend to a six-day weekend.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) said the break is from Dhul Hijjah 9 to 12 as per the Islamic Hijri calendar. Dhul Hijjah 9 is Arafat Day — which is considered the holiest day in Islam. The three days after are to mark Eid Al Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice.

The corresponding Gregorian calendar dates will be determined on June 18, when officials try to spot the crescent moon that signals the start of an Islamic month. Astronomical calculations suggest that the first day of the break — Arafat Day — is on June 27. Eid is expected to fall on the next day, June 28. The break, therefore, is likely to be from Tuesday, June 27, to Friday, June 30. If you factor in the Saturday-Sunday weekend, that’s a six-day break — the longest official holiday of the year.

After coming out of their previous weekend, residents need to work on just Monday, June 26, before enjoying the rest of the week off. Some are taking the Monday off to make it a nine-day break.

Employees will report back to work on Monday, July 3.

The holiday falls just before the two-month summer break in the UAE. This translates into more vacation options for residents.

Travel experts have said that many UAE residents are opting for two breaks this year: A short one for the Eid Al Adha break, followed by a longer one in July or August during the summer holidays. As per data collated by online travel agency musafir.com, 25 per cent of UAE residents are combining leisure travel with a visit to their home countries.

• Eid Al Adha 2023 in UAE: 5 reasons why residents pay more for overseas holidays during long weekends