Already wondering when the next long weekend is? If you’re in the UAE, you know that planning travel, family gatherings, and work projects revolves around the official public holiday calendar. But the excitement of a potential break often comes with a major challenge: uncertainty, especially when it comes to Islamic holidays like Eid Al Adha 2025. Sifting through conflicting dates and predictions can make it impossible to plan with confidence.
That’s why we’ve created this definitive planner. This isn’t just another list of dates. It’s your single, authoritative source for navigating the 2025 UAE public holidays. Here, you’ll find the official calendar, a clear explanation of the predicted dates for Eid Al Adha 2025, a breakdown of the moon-sighting process that causes dates to shift, and practical advice to help you maximize every single day off.
For a complete practical guide to life in the Emirates, explore our full Living in the UAE hub.
The Next UAE Public Holiday: Arafat Day & Eid Al Adha 2025
For those looking for a quick answer, the next major public holiday break in the UAE will be for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha.
Based on astronomical calculations, the break is predicted to begin around Thursday, June 5, 2025.
It’s crucial to remember that these dates are forecasts. The final, confirmed dates for all Islamic holidays are dependent on the official sighting of the moon and will be announced by the UAE government closer to the time. Astronomical charts provide a very reliable estimate, but the official declaration is what makes it final.
Official UAE Public Holidays 2025: The Complete Calendar
To help you plan your entire year, here is the complete list of UAE public holidays for 2025. This calendar is based on the official UAE Cabinet resolution and provides the fixed dates for secular holidays and the expected periods for Islamic holidays. For the most current information, you can always refer to the Official UAE Government Holiday List.[1]
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (1 day)
- Eid Al Fitr: Approximately March 30 – April 2 (4 days)
- Arafat Day: Approximately June 5 (1 day)
- Eid Al Adha: Approximately June 6 – June 8 (3 days)
- Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year): Approximately June 26 (1 day)
- Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Birthday: Approximately September 4 (1 day)
- Commemoration Day: December 1 (1 day)
- UAE National Day: December 2 – 3 (2 days)
Eid Al Adha 2025: A Deep Dive into the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ Break
The Eid Al Adha break is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Understanding the details behind its timing is key to planning effectively and avoiding any last-minute surprises.
Predicted Dates: When is Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha 2025?
Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are determined by the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, Dhul Hijjah. Based on current astronomical predictions for 2025:
- Arafat Day (Dhul Hijjah 9): Predicted to fall on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
- Eid Al Adha (Dhul Hijjah 10, 11, 12): Predicted to be observed from Friday, June 6, 2025, to Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Again, these Eid Al Adha 2025 predictions are highly reliable but remain unofficial until the UAE’s moon-sighting committee makes its formal announcement.
Why Dates are Predictions: The Moon Sighting Process Explained
The main reason for the uncertainty around Eid holiday dates is the use of the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is a lunar calendar. Unlike the solar-based Gregorian calendar used for dates like New Year’s Day, the Hijri calendar is based on the cycles of the moon.
A new month begins only after a new crescent moon is physically sighted. In the UAE, an official moon-sighting committee is responsible for this task. While astronomers can calculate the moon’s phases with incredible accuracy, the traditional and official method requires a confirmed visual sighting. This is why the final dates for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha are typically announced just a week or so beforehand. This process is overseen by religious bodies like the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments,[2] which ensures adherence to traditional practices.
How Many Days Off? Calculating Your 2025 Eid Al Adha Break
This is where planning becomes exciting. By combining the predicted holiday dates with the standard UAE weekend (Saturday and Sunday), we can forecast the total length of the break. This is the key to understanding how many days off you’ll actually get for Arafat and Eid in 2025.
Based on the predictions, here is the likely breakdown:
- Thursday, June 5: Arafat Day (Public Holiday)
- Friday, June 6: Eid Al Adha Day 1 (Public Holiday)
- Saturday, June 7: Eid Al Adha Day 2 (Public Holiday / Weekend)
- Sunday, June 8: Eid Al Adha Day 3 (Public Holiday / Weekend)
This combination results in a fantastic four-day long weekend, giving you ample time for travel, celebration, or relaxation.
Understanding the Significance of the Holidays
Beyond being a welcome break, these holidays hold deep cultural and religious meaning for Muslims around the world.
What is Eid Al Adha? The Festival of Sacrifice
Eid Al Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is one of the most important holidays in Islam. It commemorates the story of the Prophet Ibrahim’s profound willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. According to tradition, just as Ibrahim was about to carry out the instruction, God intervened and provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. The festival honours this ultimate act of faith and submission.
The Importance of Arafat Day
Arafat Day is the day immediately preceding Eid Al Adha. It is considered one of the holiest days in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. On this day, pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat to pray and seek forgiveness, an act of profound spiritual significance.
Holiday Planning FAQs
Navigating the logistics of public holidays can be tricky. Here are answers to some of the most common questions.
What Happens if a Public Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
This is a frequent concern for residents hoping to maximize their time off. According to UAE Cabinet resolution No. 27 of 2024, if an official holiday falls on a weekend, it may be carried over to the beginning or end of the week. However, the resolution explicitly states that this rule is applied “with the exception of Eid holidays.” This means that Eid Al Adha and Eid Al Fitr holidays are generally not compensated with an extra day if one of the dates falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Where Can I Find Official Holiday Announcements?
To get the final, confirmed dates and avoid any misinformation, it is essential to rely on official sources. The UAE government formally announces all public holiday dates, and this news is disseminated through its official channels. The most reliable place to find these announcements as soon as they are made is the Emirates News Agency (WAM),[3] the official news agency of the UAE government.
Give Me a Break..
While the lunar calendar’s nature means we must wait for official confirmation, we can plan with a high degree of confidence. The next major break for Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha 2025 is predicted to create a four-day long weekend starting Thursday, June 5, 2025. By understanding the full 2025 holiday calendar and the process behind Islamic holiday announcements, you can move from uncertainty to confident planning.
Bookmark this page for the latest updates! We’ll be the first to update it with the official government announcement for the Eid Al Adha 2025 holiday.
Disclaimer: This article contains predicted dates for Islamic holidays based on astronomical calculations. The final dates are subject to the official sighting of the moon and will be confirmed by UAE authorities. Always refer to official government announcements for final confirmation.
Sources
- The Official Portal of the UAE Government. (n.d.). Public holidays. Retrieved from https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/public-holidays-and-religious-affairs/public-holidays
- General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf). (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved from https://english.awqaf.gov.ae/
- Emirates News Agency (WAM). (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved from https://www.wam.ae/en/