Residents in the UAE may be looking at a four-day holiday for Eid Al Adha, depending on the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon, according to astronomical experts.
The International Astronomical Centre (IAC) has projected that the crescent moon, which signals the start of Dhul Hijjah—the final month of the Islamic calendar—is most likely to be seen on Monday, May 27. Using telescopes, it is expected to be visible from parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and possibly with the naked eye in the Americas.
If this sighting is confirmed, Arafat Day would fall on Thursday, June 5, with Eid Al Adha starting Friday, June 6. In this case, UAE residents would enjoy a break from June 5 to June 8, inclusive of the weekend.
However, if the moon is not sighted on May 27, the start of Dhul Hijjah would be pushed to May 29, which would shift Arafat Day to June 6 and Eid Al Adha to begin on June 7. That would make the long weekend stretch from June 6 to June 9.
As per the UAE Cabinet’s official list of holidays, Arafat Day and the three days that follow for Eid are designated public holidays, giving citizens and residents a well-deserved extended break.
Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, director of the IAC, confirmed that while the moon will set about 38 to 39 minutes after sunset in both Abu Dhabi and Makkah, it will likely require a telescope to be seen. “The crescent’s visibility depends on more than just age and duration,” he said, emphasizing that factors like the moon’s angle and height above the horizon are also critical.
The final confirmation of the Eid Al Adha dates will depend on official moon sightings and announcements by the relevant authorities in each country.