UAE Fatwa Council / WAM
UAE lunar determination: Eid al-Adha on 27 May
Confirmed · Scope: public · Checked 2026-09-12
1 Dhu al-Hijjah is 18 May; day 9 is 26 May and Eid begins on 27 May. Continuation follows the recurring three-day framework.
Arafat Day in the UAE
2026 observance date
Confirmed — source checked
About Arafat Day
Arafat Day, also called the Day of Arafah, is 9 Dhu al-Hijjah. It immediately precedes Eid al-Adha but remains a distinct observance with its own identity. The UAE calendar keeps the Arafat entry separate even when an employer treats the surrounding days as one continuous break.
Public holiday / closure dates
- — Single of holiday period · Observance date · Confirmed — source checked
Bank, office and school arrangements require the applicable authority or institution notice. Missing scope data does not mean open.
Next supported occurrence
Saturday, 15 May 2027 · Estimated / awaiting confirmation
Next listed holiday day on or after today; this can be a closure day rather than the festival date.
2027 dates
- — Single of holiday period · Observance dateEstimated / awaiting confirmation
2028 dates
- — Single of holiday period · Observance dateEstimated / awaiting confirmation
Official sources and date status
Recorded confirmation and independent source review are shown separately. An institution-specific notice does not establish closure for every employer or school.
UAE Cabinet
Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024: recurring holiday framework
Pending Review · Scope: public
Recurring dates and durations; future lunar projections need annual confirmation. Full document retrieval returned 403 in this continuation; indexed official schedule corroborates the saved framework.
Office arrangements
The UAE Fatwa Council established 18 May as the start of Dhu al-Hijjah in 2026. Its ninth day therefore falls on 26 May, followed by Eid on 27 May. FAHR separately announced a federal break from 25-29 May. The extra 25 May closure is not another Arafat observance or a universal private-sector holiday.
Bank arrangements
Check the bank's Arafat and Eid notice for branch access and payment cut-offs. A combined holiday roster does not establish that every financial service stops for the same span. Arrange transactions requiring staffed approval ahead of the provider's deadline.
School arrangements
A school may align a term break with the wider Arafat and Eid period. Verify its start and end directly. One public-holiday entry does not establish the length of a vacation, examination changes or attendance requirements for a particular campus.
History
The day is associated with the gathering at Arafat during Hajj. It must not be confused with the first day of Eid al-Adha on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah. Its Gregorian date changes with the lunar calendar. Adjacent dates or shared office closures are not reasons to combine the two holidays.
Why it matters
Arafat Day has religious significance for pilgrims and for Muslims observing it at home. In the UAE framework it also precedes the three Eid holiday dates. That sequence helps with leave planning, but counting a continuous break should not erase the identities of the occasions within it.
Observance
Religious observance is central to the day, while individual practices and arrangements vary. Pilgrimage involves separate official requirements outside this calendar. Those remaining in the UAE should consult local announcements for services or activities and avoid treating an online estimate as an official lunar decision.
Travel and planning
Future Gregorian projections remain subject to the official lunar determination. When comparing a potential long break, distinguish Arafat Day, the Eid days, the ordinary weekend and any approved personal leave. Use the selected year rather than carrying an earlier year's arrangements forward.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arafat Day the first Eid day?
No. Arafat is 9 Dhu al-Hijjah; Eid al-Adha begins on the tenth.
Are Arafat and Day of Arafah different holidays?
They are names for the same observance and resolve to this guide.
Does a longer federal break change the observance?
No. An additional closure day does not change Arafat Day or the first day of Eid.
Are future dates final?
No. They remain estimated until supported by reviewed official evidence.
View all United Arab Emirates public holidays 2026