Bringing in long weekends, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha are the two most widely celebrated festivals in the UAE and GCC region. As the new year begins, a popular question on the minds of residents is “When is Eid?” Read on to find out, and mark your calendars ahead of the occasion.
Eid Al Fitr 2024
Among the many public holidays in the UAE, Eid Al Fitr is the most anticipated as it brings the fulfilling and spiritual month of Ramadan to an end, and is marked by large gatherings of friends and family. Known as the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (Hijri), Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a time for prayer, religious dedication, abstinence, and fasting from dawn to sunset, and is followed by the tenth month Shawwal.
Given that the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, and is based on the phases of the moon, the corresponding dates of the beginning and end of Ramadan on the Gregorian calendar will only be determined closer to the date. For now, UAE astronomers have predicted a potential date for the occasion, and seeing as the UAE government has allocated Ramadan 29 to Shawwal 3 (Monday, April 8 to Friday, April 12) as a public holiday, residents may be in for a long weekend this year. If the crescent moon is not sighted on Ramadan 29—meaning the month will be 30 days long— residents who have Saturdays and Sundays off from work will have a nine-day break, with offices reopening on Monday, April 15. However, if the crescent moon is sighted on Ramadan 29—meaning the month will be 29 days long—Friday, April 12 is likely to be a working day.
Eid Al Adha 2024
Celebrated approximately 70 days after Eid Al Fitr on the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Adha holds a larger religious significance. It is preceded by Arafat Day, which is the ninth day of the Islamic month Dhul-Hijjah, and the second day of Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca—one of the five pillars of Islam. According to religious beliefs, Eid Al Adha honors Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them) and their obedience to God.
Similar to Eid Al Fitr, the day of Eid Al Adha is also determined by the sighting of the moon, and confirmed dates will only be announced closer to the time. However, astronomers predict the days of the public holiday, Dhul Hijjah 10 to 12, are likely to correspond to Sunday, June 16 to Tuesday, June 18 on the Gregorian calendar, meaning a three-day long weekend for those who normally have Sundays off.
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