Eid Mubarak!
The UAE has announced the public and private sector holiday dates for Eid Al-Adha.
Friday, 8 July will mark Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha will be observed from Saturday 9 July to Monday, 11 July 2022.
The exact dates are always subject to moon sightings, however, the public holiday dates are confirmed by the Government.
What do I need to know as a visitor to Abu Dhabi during Eid?
Eid Al Adha is the Festival of the Sacrifice. It is the second and holier of the two occasions of Eid marked by Muslims around the world. (The other Eid is Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan).
It begins on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, which is the 12th and final month in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar.
The occasion is marked by prayers and large gatherings of family and friends over shared meals.
The last two years have seen limitations on the size of gatherings due to COVID-19 Safety precautions. Although the crowd size regulations have been dropped and in-person gatherings are permitted beyond first degree relatives in 2022, the UAE Government announced on 4 July 2022 that participants in any Eid events will need a negative PCR valid within 72 hours to attend any events.
As a non-Muslim, there is nothing specific visitors to Abu Dhabi really need to observe during Eid, however, it can be a busy time of year and hotel prices can rise as a result of a lot of local families choosing to staycation at this time of year.
Conversely, there can also be shopping bargains to be had and great special offers to enjoy. Retail outlets may stay open until much later at night.
Learn more about what’s happening in Abu Dhabi over Eid and July here.
Unlike in Dubai where bars and restaurants are asked to stop serving alcohol over religious occasions, the Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism stopped issuing these “dry day” orders in 2018. There is no formal announcement made but expect “business as usual” at pubs and bars in Abu Dhabi over Eid. We’ve heard no 2022 announcement as yet for bars in Dubai.
Further public holidays in Abu Dhabi and the UAE
Dates for the remainder of 2022:
- Islamic New Year: 1 Muharram (Est 30 July 2022, observed on 1 August 2022 – 1 day)
- Prophet Muhammed’s (PBUH) Birthday: Est 8 October 2022, observed on 10 October 2022
- Commemoration Day: Thursday, 1 December 2022
- UAE National Day: Friday, 2 December, and Saturday, 3 December 2022
You can find a full listing of Abu Dhabi’s public holidays and school holidays here
