Eid Al Adha 2027 is expected on Sunday 16 May in the UAE, with the public holiday covering Arafah Day and the three days of Eid from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May. If the Dhul Hijjah moon is sighted a day later, everything moves by one day, to Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May. Because the break starts on a weekend, you get four or five days off in a row without leave, and taking three days of leave from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May gives nine days off in either scenario. The holiday is the same for the public and private sectors.
At a glance
- Arafah Day
- Expected Saturday 15 May 2027 (or Sunday 16)
- Eid Al Adha
- Expected Sunday 16 May 2027 (or Monday 17)
- Public holiday
- 9 to 12 Dhul Hijjah: expected 15 to 18 May, or 16 to 19 May
- Days off without leave
- 4 or 5, including the weekend
- Best leave plan
- Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May: 9 days off
- Announcement
- Expected in early May 2027, once the Dhul Hijjah crescent is sighted
Last checked: 13 October 2026. These are expected dates from astronomical calculations and the Ministry of Education calendar, not the official holiday.
On this page
- Eid Al Adha 2027: the two scenarios
- When will the holiday be announced?
- Leave planner: nine days off
- Private sector and public sector
- Can the Eid Al Adha holiday be moved?
- What is open over Eid Al Adha
- Eid events and fireworks
- How Eid Al Adha is celebrated in the UAE
- Will Eid be on the same day in Saudi Arabia and Oman?
- Where to go over Eid Al Adha 2027
- Eid Al Adha and the rest of the 2027 holidays
- Change log
- Eid Al Adha 2027 FAQs
Eid Al Adha 2027: the two scenarios
Under the UAE’s holiday rules, Eid Al Adha covers Arafah Day (9 Dhul Hijjah) and the three days of Eid (10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah), a four-day paid holiday. The UAE Astronomy Centre expects the Dhul Hijjah crescent on Thursday 6 or Friday 7 May 2027, so the month starts on 7 or 8 May.
| If Dhul Hijjah starts on 7 May | If Dhul Hijjah starts on 8 May | |
|---|---|---|
| Arafah Day (9 Dhul Hijjah) | Saturday 15 May | Sunday 16 May |
| Eid Al Adha (10 Dhul Hijjah) | Sunday 16 May | Monday 17 May |
| Public holiday | Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May | Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May |
| Weekdays off | 2 (Monday and Tuesday) | 3 (Monday to Wednesday) |
| Days off in a row | 4 (Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18) | 5 (Saturday 15 to Wednesday 19) |
| Back to work | Wednesday 19 May | Thursday 20 May |
The first scenario matches the Ministry of Education’s 2026-27 school calendar, which sets the Eid Al Adha holiday from 15 to 18 May 2027, and the dates we use in our UAE public holidays 2027 list. Holidays that fall on the Saturday and Sunday weekend are not normally moved or compensated, which is why the first scenario gives fewer weekdays off.
These are expected dates, not the official holiday. Plan for a holiday from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, and keep Wednesday 19 May flexible until the announcement.
When will the holiday be announced?
The dates are confirmed only after the Dhul Hijjah crescent is sighted. In 2026, the moon was sighted on the evening of Sunday 17 May, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issued its private sector circular on Monday 18 May, about a week before the holiday. The private sector had Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 May 2026 off (Arafah Day to 12 Dhul Hijjah), while federal government staff were given Monday 25 to Friday 29 May, and Sharjah government staff a longer break. For 2027, expect the announcement around 7 or 8 May; we update this page the day it is published.
Leave planner: nine days off
| Leave you take | Leave days | Days off (Eid on 16 May) | Days off (Eid on 17 May) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 0 | 4 (Sat 15 to Tue 18 May) | 5 (Sat 15 to Wed 19 May) |
| Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May | 3 | 9 (Sat 15 to Sun 23 May) | 9, with Wednesday already a holiday |
| Monday 10 to Friday 14 May | 5 | 11 (Sat 8 to Tue 18 May) | 12 (Sat 8 to Wed 19 May) |
| Monday 10 to Friday 14 and Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May | 8 | 16 (Sat 8 to Sun 23 May) | 16 |
The safe plan is to request Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May. If Eid falls on 17 May, Wednesday becomes a public holiday and you can cancel one day of leave.
Private sector and public sector
Since Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, public and private sector employees get the same official public holidays, listed on the UAE Government portal. In practice the announcements can differ by a day or two, as in 2026, when federal staff got an extra day before Arafah. Shift workers in hospitality, retail and healthcare often work through Eid, so check your employer’s rota.
Can the Eid Al Adha holiday be moved?
No. The Cabinet can move some public holidays to the start or end of the week to make long weekends, but Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha always stay on their Hijri dates.
What is open over Eid Al Adha
- Malls: open, often with longer hours and Eid sales.
- Attractions: open, many with Eid shows and late hours; indoor attractions are busiest.
- Beaches and parks: open; in mid-May they are best early in the morning and after sunset.
- Government offices: closed for the official holiday days; many services stay available online.
- Seasonal attractions: Dubai Miracle Garden and Dubai Safari Park are listed to 31 May 2027; Global Village’s season usually ends in early to mid May, so check before you go.
Crowd cue: the first evening of Eid is the busiest time at malls and attractions. Eid morning is quiet on the roads after the early Eid prayer, and the second and third mornings are best for day trips.
Eid events and fireworks
Dubai’s Eid programme, run by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, usually includes fireworks, concerts and mall offers over the holiday. Recent Eid fireworks have been held at places such as Dubai Festival City, Al Seef, The Beach at JBR, Bluewaters and Hatta, and Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah hold waterfront events too. The 2027 line-up is usually published in the week before Eid; we add it here when it is out.
How Eid Al Adha is celebrated in the UAE
Eid Al Adha, the “festival of the sacrifice”, is the larger of the two Eids and comes at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah. For visitors and new residents, these are the customs you will notice:
- Arafah Day: the day before Eid, when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat; many Muslims in the UAE fast on this day.
- Eid prayer: held early on Eid morning in mosques and open-air prayer grounds, so nearby roads are busy first thing.
- Udhiyah: families who can afford it sacrifice a sheep, goat or camel and share the meat with relatives and people in need. In the UAE this must be done at licensed slaughterhouses, and municipalities run booking apps and extra capacity over Eid.
- Family visits and food: the first day is for family, with feasts, Arabic coffee, dates and sweets.
- Eidiya: gifts of money, often new banknotes, for children.
- Greeting: “Eid Mubarak” is the standard greeting and is warmly received from non-Muslims too.
Will Eid be on the same day in Saudi Arabia and Oman?
Usually Eid Al Adha falls on the same day in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, because the Hajj calendar is set by Saudi Arabia’s moon sighting, while Oman sometimes celebrates a day later. If you plan to drive to Oman, check both countries’ holiday announcements; border posts are at their busiest on the Eid days.
Where to go over Eid Al Adha 2027
Mid-May is hot, with days around 37 to 38°C, so plan around the heat:
- Jebel Jais: usually about 10 degrees cooler than the coast.
- Indoor theme parks and water parks: Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and IMG Worlds, or water parks first thing.
- Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Saadiyat museums: air-conditioned culture.
- Night swimming beaches: the coolest way to enjoy the sea in May.
- Indoor activities in Dubai: for the hottest hours.
If you are flying out, book early: a nine-day break in mid-May is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Check your flight status before you leave, as Gulf flight schedules changed at short notice during 2026.
Eid Al Adha and the rest of the 2027 holidays
| 2027 date | Expected |
|---|---|
| Ramadan begins | Around Monday 8 February |
| Eid Al Fitr | Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March (1 Shawwal) |
| Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha | Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, or a day later |
| Hijri New Year (1 Muharram) | Sunday 6 June, or Monday 7 June |
| Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Saturday 14 or Sunday 15 August |
All Islamic dates depend on moon sighting. See the full UAE public holidays 2027 list and the school holidays 2026-27.
Change log
- 13 October 2026: page created with expected dates. The official 2027 Eid Al Adha holiday has not been announced.
Eid Al Adha 2027 FAQs
When is Eid Al Adha 2027 in the UAE?
Eid Al Adha 2027 is expected on Sunday 16 May, or Monday 17 May if the Dhul Hijjah moon is sighted a day later. Arafah Day is the day before.
How many days is the Eid Al Adha holiday in 2027?
Four days, covering Arafah Day and the three days of Eid: expected from Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, or Sunday 16 to Wednesday 19 May.
How can I get 9 days off for Eid Al Adha 2027?
Take leave from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 May. With the expected holiday and two weekends, that gives nine days off from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May.
Is the Eid Al Adha holiday the same for the private sector?
Yes. Since Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024, the public and private sectors get the same official holidays, though announcements can differ slightly, as they did in 2026.
When will the UAE announce the Eid Al Adha 2027 holiday?
After the Dhul Hijjah crescent is sighted, expected on 6 or 7 May 2027. In 2026, the private sector holiday was announced about a week before Eid.
Why is the holiday shorter when Arafah Day falls on a Saturday?
Holidays that fall on the Saturday and Sunday weekend are not normally moved or compensated, so a Saturday Arafah Day means fewer weekdays off.
Can the Eid Al Adha holiday be moved to a long weekend?
No. Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha always stay on their Hijri dates, unlike some other UAE holidays.