Eid Al Adha is set to begin July 9 in the UAE and across the Islamic world.
According to a post from the UAE’s licensed news agency UAE Barq, Engineer Muhammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomy Center, stated that the crescent of Dhul-Hijjah is set to be sighted on Wednesday, June 29, but due to conditions there is no way to see it with the naked eye in the Islamic world.
Because of this, June 30 is set to be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah in many countries, with Friday July 8 marking Arafat Day, and Saturday, July 9 marking the first day of Eid Al Adha.
This could actually end up a public holiday of July 9, a Saturday, to July 13, a Wednesday—stay tuned, as we’ll know more closer to those days.
We’ll keep you posted!
The UAE’s remaining public holidays for 2022
Arafah Day – Dhu Al Hijjah 9 (July 8)
First up is Arafat Day, which is subject to moon sighting. On the Islamic Calendar, that should fall on Dhu Al Hijjah, which is expected to occur on July 8 in the UAE.
Eid Al Adha – Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 12 (July 9 to 11)
Right after that is Eid Al Adha—directly after, that is. Eid Al Adha is scheduled to fall on Dhu al-Hijjah 10 to 12, which is expected to run July 9 to 11. This could actually end up a public holiday of July 9, a Saturday, to July 13, a Wednesday—stay tuned, as we’ll know more closer to those days.
Islamic New Year – July 30
Next up will be Islamic New Year, scheduled to fall on July 30this year. That, however, will be a Saturday, so it’s unsure whether we will have a public off-day during the regular 5-day scheduled working week.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)’s Birthday – October 8
Al-Mawlid Al-Nabawi, or the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) should fall on October 8, but much like Islamic New Year, this is also a Saturday, so it’s also unsure whether we will have a public off-day during the regular 5-day scheduled working week.
Commemoration Day – December 1
Commemoration Day, which was previously called Martyr’s Day, always falls on December 1 in the UAE. This year, that will be a Thursday.
UAE National Day – December 2 and 3
Finally, the UAE National Day will return on December 2 and 3, which will be a Friday and a Saturday.
Three Eids in 2033
You may remember that there’s going to be two Ramadans in 2030.
We’ve done the math and found something remarkable—there’s going to be three Eids in 2033.
But wait—how is that possible?
Here’s how: The Islamic calendar and the Gregorian calendar don’t match up exactly as the Islamic calendar relies on the cycles of the moon. Because of that, the lunar month moves forward by about 10 to 11 days each year.
That’s why, in 2030, Ramadan will fall both in January and again in December.
Following each Ramadan is an Eid—so shouldn’t there be two Eid Al Fitrs in 2030 too? Not so fast.
Because 2030’s second Ramadan will begin in December, it won’t end until the end of the following January.
According to Alhabib.info, which tracks the Islamic (Hijri) Calendar and compares it to the Gregorian calendar, based on global crescent moon sighting probability, in the year 1454 to 1455 AH, which corresponds to 2033 CE, there will be three Eids that year.
Let’s break it down: First, Eid al-Fitr will begin on 1 Shawwal 1454 AH, which should be Monday, 03 January 2033.
Next, Eid Al-Adha should begin on 10 Dhul-Hijjah 1454 AH, corresponding likely with Friday, 11 March 2033.
Then Ramadan will begin again at the end of November, likely 23 November 2033, a Wednesday.
That would mean 2033’s second Eid al-Fitr, 1 Shawwal 1455 AH, will likely begin Friday, 23 December 2033.
There you go. Three Eids in 2033.
And not only that—that means that Eid will coincide with Christmas.
Merry Christmas Eid!
This is all, of course, subject to the lunar cycles, which won’t be official until they are declared the night before, so don’t book your holidays just yet.
Or do, you’ll probably get a great deal.