The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. ARCHIVE

The first day of Eid Al Adha will be on July 9, after the crescent moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia, authorities said. Arafat Day will fall on Friday, July 8, another public holiday in the UAE. This means that the Eid Al Adha weekend in the UAE will run from July 9 to 11. This gives UAE residents a four-day holiday before work resumes on July 12. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that the paid holiday of Eid Al Adha for the private sector will start on Arafat Day and end on Monday, July 11. Employees in the government sector will also have their Eid Al Adha holiday from July 8 until July 11, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources announced. Eid Al Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” is an important Muslim holiday that honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. Islamic New Year will follow on July 30, which falls on a Saturday, but it is not expected to be declared a public holiday. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page