Home GCC UAE Eid Al Adha likely to begin on August 22 The next national holiday is fast approaching by Staff Writer June 25, 2018 The Islamic holiday of Eid Al Adha will likely begin on Wednesday, August 22, a UAE astronomer has predicted. Sharjah Planetarium deputy director Ebrahim Al Jarwan said based on astronomical calculations Arafat Day would fall on Tuesday, August 21, according to Gulf News. That would mean Eid Al Adha begins the next day. Eid Al Adha, known as the ‘feast of the sacrifice’, honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to God. Before he could commit the act, God sent an angel to replace the sacrifice with a sheep. During Eid, Muslims sacrifice an animal in commemoration of this act and divide it into three parts. One third is for family, one third is for relatives, friends and neighbours and one third is given to the poor and needy. Last year, Eid fell on Friday, September 1, with UAE private sector workers receiving one extra day off to mark the occasion and public sector workers two extra days. Read: UAE confirms private sector holiday dates for Eid Al Adha As Eid is expected to fall mid-week this year authorities are expected to give private sector staff at least two days of holiday. 0 Comments