Dubai confirms Eid Al Adha 2026 holidays and Dhu Al Hijjah moon sighting
Shift-based services to continue during Eid celebrations
DUBAI – The government employees in Dubai are set to receive an extended Eid Al Adha break after the Dubai Government Human Resources Department announced official holiday dates for the 1447 AH occasion.
The holiday for government entities, departments and institutions will begin on Monday, May 25, 2026, and continue until Friday, May 29, with regular working hours resuming on Monday, June 1.
The arrangement effectively gives many public sector employees a nine-day break when combined with the preceding and following weekends. The announcement aligns with the UAE federal government’s previously confirmed public sector holiday schedule for Eid Al Adha.
Authorities clarified that employees working in shifts or those connected to public services and facilities may follow schedules determined by operational requirements to ensure uninterrupted services throughout the holiday period.
Moon sighting
Dubai will also host a public moon-sighting event for the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent on May 17, 2026, as preparations for the Islamic occasion gather pace across the UAE.
According to Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, the new moon of Dhu Al Hijjah is expected to be born on Sunday, May 17, at 12:01am UAE time.
Eid Al Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Based on astronomical calculations, Day of Arafah is expected to fall on Tuesday, May 26, while Eid Al Adha is likely to begin at sunrise on Wednesday, May 27.
Service continuity
Officials said customer service centres and public facilities linked to essential operations would continue functioning during the holiday period under adjusted staffing schedules.
The Dubai Government Human Resources Department also extended congratulations and best wishes to the UAE leadership, citizens, residents, and Arab and Islamic nations on the occasion, expressing hopes for continued prosperity, wellbeing and blessings.