Eid Al Adha is an important date in the Muslim calendar. It is a public holiday for both the public and private sector in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In 2020, Eid Al Adha is expected to begin on Friday 31 July. It is a three day holiday. The actual date is not confirmed until the sighting of the crescent moon.
Eid Al Adha celebrates the willingness of the Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. The prophet was willing to submit to God’s command but an angel intervened and provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
In English, the words mean ‘Festival of the Sacrifice’.
Eid Al Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It coincides with the end of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Arafat Day, the ninth day of Dhu Al Hijjah and the day before Eid Al Adha, is also a public holiday.
The festival is a public holiday so most offices and government departments in Dubai will be closed.
Most shopping malls are actually open longer than usual. Restaurants and tourist attractions are open and busy. The holiday usually begins with one dry day (no alcohol served). Firework displays are also held.
The Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram also have extended hours. Buses also run later. Parking is usually free. Check the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) website for precise timings.
Special prayers are held. Muslims sacrifice a sheep or goat. The meat is shared equally between family, friends, and the poor.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. It has 12 months but only 354 days. It is shorter than the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Although Eid Al Adha occurs on the same day of the Islamic calendar, it moves 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Eid Al Fitr is the other official Islamic holiday in the year. It is the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. It follows Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims are required to fast.
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