The crescent moon is in, and the UAE has its Eid Al Adha dates locked.
The UAE Council for Fatwa announced on Sunday, May 17, 2026, that the Dhul Hijjah crescent had been sighted. WAM reported that Monday, May 18, marks the first day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH. The Day of Arafah falls on Tuesday, May 26. Eid Al Adha begins on Wednesday, May 27.
The Council made the decision after reviewing reports from specialists, experts, and official moon-sighting teams across the country. The UAE relies on a network of approved observatories supervised by Islamic and astronomy institutions.
Saudi Arabia confirmed the same dates on Sunday evening. Hajj 2026 will begin shortly after. Oman’s Main Committee for Moon-sighting also confirmed May 18 as the first of Dhul Hijjah and May 27 as Eid Al Adha. The GCC is aligned for a unified celebration this year.
Dhul Hijjah Moon Sighting and Arafah Day 2026
Dhul Hijjah is the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The first ten days are considered the most blessed of the Islamic year. Pilgrims gather in Makkah for Hajj. Muslims outside the pilgrimage observe fasts, charity, and extra worship.
Arafah Day falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. For pilgrims, it is the spiritual heart of Hajj. Millions gather on the plain of Arafah from noon until sunset in an act of standing supplication known as Wuquf. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said, “Hajj is Arafah.” For Muslims not performing Hajj, fasting on Arafah Day is a Sunnah said to expiate the sins of the past and coming year.
Eid Al Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. It commemorates the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him. The day is observed with prayer, animal sacrifice, family visits, and giving to those in need.
Ibrahim Al Jarwan, chairman of the Emirates Astronomical Society, said the new moon for Dhul Hijjah was born on Sunday at 12:01 am UAE time. The International Astronomy Center photographed the crescent in daylight from Abu Dhabi’s Khatm Astronomical Observatory at 9:20 am, with the moon positioned 7.8 degrees from the sun.
UAE Eid Al Adha Holidays for Public and Private Sector
The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced a five-day paid holiday for public sector employees. The break runs from Monday, May 25, through Friday, May 29. Combined with the weekends, government workers get a nine-day break. Work resumes on Monday, June 1.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirmed the private sector holiday on Monday. Private sector employees will receive a four-day paid holiday from Tuesday, May 26, through Friday, May 29. For those with a Saturday-Sunday weekend, this works out to a six-day break.
Sharjah follows a four-day workweek with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as the weekend. Government employees in Sharjah will enjoy a 10-day break.
The Ministry of Education confirmed the midterm break for the third academic term. It runs from May 25 to May 29 for students, teachers, and administrative staff in public schools. Private schools in Dubai will observe the same dates under the unified academic calendar, with classes resuming on June 1. The Sharjah Private Education Authority confirmed that private schools in the emirate will be off from May 25 to May 28.
Dubai Moon Sighting Event and Hajj 2026
The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai held a public moon-sighting event at the Jebel Nazwa Trail on Sunday evening. The gathering began at 5 pm and continued past sunset. Such events are part of an established Islamic tradition that marks the beginning of each lunar month.
Focus now shifts to the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is obligatory for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to perform it at least once in their lifetime. Saudi authorities are expecting millions of pilgrims at the holy sites in the coming days.
For UAE residents, the next two weeks bring the country’s longest public holiday of 2026.
